2/18/11 - Reflections

Reviewing instrumental method books was an exciting activity, and I particularly enjoyed reviewing the series, Do It! Teach In Band. I found this series to be highly unusual, but beneficial for the teacher who wants to teach music by ear. The possibilities for composition, improvisation, and learning about intonation and balance are endless. The resources that accompany this series are vast and user-friendly. I enjoyed the opportunity of sharing this series with the class. If I had to do it all over again though, I think I would have spent less time talking, and more time playing with the CD. Although I hope a lot of what I had to say was important and valid, I should have spent more time delving into the actual supplementary materials, which is really what makes this method book series shine. In hindsight, I also think that I was far too critical of this series' shortcomings. Rather than make a list of what I disliked most about the series, I should have spent my time promoting what the series does well. I also didn't manage my time very well; I had planned some group activities and I barely had enough time to show the class some audio examples.

I also enjoyed hearing my colleagues present their method book to the class. Although I can appreciate all of them for what they are trying to accomplish, I certainly have my favorites. The Jump Right In series is perhaps beneficial for an entire music program that advocates Gordon Learning Theory, but I would never use it by itself. It is too complicated, and young students need to play. I think students would easily become frustrated with this series and want to give up their instrument for all the wrong reasons. My personal favorite is Standard of Excellence, which developed out of the book I learned from, Best In Class. I think it has the perfect balance of various learning theories, and it presents it to the students in an attractive way. I remember highly valuing the book when I was learning how to play the saxophone. It seemed perfect; it taught rhythm well, and introduced concepts at a gradual pace. I neither felt frustrated or bored as I was learning the fundamentals and rudiments of music and the saxophone. If I find myself in front of a beginning orchestra one day, I think Artistry For Strings is an excellent book for my beginning string players. It has excellent visual diagrams and taught the students at a moderate pace.

Switching topics, I highly enjoyed participating in classroom observations this week. I don't think I was surprised in anything I saw, except for the genius of Mr. B. H. I wish I had him as a band director when I was in 5th grade! That school district doesn't know how lucky they are to have such an all-star at the helm. What impressed me more is that he had his own "method" developed for the percussion. When I went to do an observation last semester of his 7th and 8th grade bands, he had his own "method" developed for them as well! He really should publish some of his materials as they really seem to be effective. There were other teachers that I observed that seemed to be less successful at dealing with the temperament of 5th graders. I know that this is because of age and experience. This worries me a little bit, as I love teaching music, but I don't intend to be a "baby-sitter" to children that can't behave. But I also understand that this comes with teaching younger students because of their short attention span. I also understand that certain students will have special needs, and certain schools will have a large population of students with special needs. It is just disappointing when you have to spend more time disciplining children instead of teaching them music.