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 Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 6:43 pm
Just venting...
I taught a school with Jr. High Orchestra today. Don't get me wrong, I love teaching, and I think that all of these kids are wonderful, but they did not have a good instrumental teacher previously. Because of the lack of winds, I'm going to have to recommend that the school cut out wind and percussion until they can get enough kids interested. 5 flutes, 1 clarinet, and 2 trombones just doesn't cut it. I feel bad for these kids. The school obviously does not see music as a priority. Their music library is virtually non-existent, so they end up playing the same things every year, and they are still terrible. Also, the beginners are with advanced, which is bogus. Their basic fundamentals are seriously lacking. There are no violas, and only 2 basses, 2 cellos, and a boat load of violins. They can still have a string program, but they are going to have to divide into begg and advanced at least, or else the kids won't learn much, and they will just hate it. And they need more than 2 cellos, and 2 basses, and definitely some violas. It is unfortunate that a lot of schools have this problem. Can you believe they wanted to pay me $15 per class? I told them $40, or no go. I really feel bad for these kids because it seems that they would like to learn about music but they don't get the opportunity, which really really sucks! crying
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Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 3:32 pm
I dont recommend cutting winds and percussion out. If they do, it will definately never grow. Kids wont be interested if it dosnt exist. Just give it some time, don't make drastic changes. Try to improve things before giving up on them and cutting them out.
My middle school band was the same way. We would only learn like 2 songs and we were always being made to play the same thing over and over. It was frustrating from the student point of view because I wanted to grow and be challenged. Make it fun but challenge them. When kids come in try to steer them to a certian direction into the instruments needed without MAKING them choose. I dont believe in making a kid pick the instrument YOU want them to play. Tell a bit about all the instruments to try and get them not to choose the most common. Tell them a bit about the uniquness of the cello for instance or viola, french horn, percussion. But if they want to play a more common instrument then so be it. Also might I recommend asking any of the others if they would like to try another instrument. For example one of your 5 flutes or many violins.
Remember its a middle school orchestra. There may never be a good balance of instruments, the important thing is that they learn thier instruments personally so when they do move on to older more balenced orchestras thier ready to play and fit in. Thier young so teaching them to actually play individually right now is important. Just work with what you have patiently. Make sure to take special care in them individually.
And try not to spend too much attention on what the world and the schools think about music. It can be too frustrating. I think just about the whole musicial world is having the same problem.
Good luck teaching Jr. High by the way, I couldnt do it.
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Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 4:39 am
Kel, I can understand you point of view of not cutting out percussion and stirngs, but I didn't really tell the whole story. The school wants me there to decide where their program should go for the short term. They do not have any funding for music. They are unwilling to change their scheduele, so therefore all of those kids have to meet in an orchestra setting twice a week for 30 min each. They will not learn anything in that setting. They need smaller groups, which can't be done with the current scheduele. If they cut out winds and percussion, and have begg strings on one day and advanced on the other day, that will at least help most of the students improve. In a perfect world with funding, they would be able to get someone in to teach the winds and percussion too.
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Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 7:01 pm
Ahh I understand. Might I suggest instead of having an "orchestra" you simply do duets, quartets, quintets sort of thing? You can do concerts with them performing like that. I think that would be cool. That way thier still learning to play with others.
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Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:52 am
Well, duets would be cool, but they want me to teach everyone from 1:10-1:40 Tuesday and Thursday, and if we separate the winds and strings, I can't be in two places at once. Good news though, the school is taking me seriously. Now until Christmas the scheduele must stay, so I have to teach everyone at once, but after Christmas, we can change it. Also, another music person is going to help me, so one can do strings, and one winds and percussion. It will be hard to teach a class with 5 flute, 1 clarinet, 2 trombone, and 5 percussion. It will be ok for now. Next week on both days I am bringing in people from the college to play instruments I want people to switch to like baritone, clarinet, trumpet, and saxophone. This will get the kids excited about those instruments and then they will want to play them, hopefully. There is always the problem of convincing the parents too to buy that instrument for them, or rent. Ahhh. But more Good NEWS, they did a lot better on Thursday. I could tell they practice. And I taught them all resting position, attention, and playing position. They look a lot more slick now. I also taught violins how to tune and play at the same time, which is also pretty slick. smile
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Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 5:01 pm
That situation reminds me of many schools in my school district who don't properly fund or support the music program. I'm a high school senior now so I've had experience of going through a few music teachers who had to explain to the class that it didn't have enough funds so there would be no new music unless the teacher got it from the internet.
Like Kel, I would not recommend cutting the winds. Have you thought of having a chamber orchestra or large ensemble? I was part of an advanced orchestra class (that lasted for 1 year unfortunately), and the orchestra focused on music theory and techniques once a week and practiced a variety of music from classical to pop-culture music.
Convincing and "wow-ing" parents and the school administration that investing and supporting the music program is the hard part. Students need to be motivated to play and generally feel like they're all connected since it really helps them progress musically. I think you already have most of them motivated. How about asking them what music they want to play? I know my orchestra teacher and symphony adviser have music sites they go to to get cheap/free music. This should make the students even more excited and motivated to practice.
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Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 5:14 pm
I see things are starting to head in the right direction for this program. That makes me really happy for you and your situation!!
I'm glad you're getting music students from the local college to come in and help out. Maybe you want to suggest an afterschool program where these students regularly come and tutor your middle schoolers, that is, if your school system offers afterschool time and transportation. Maybe aim for a spring project, where the college students and middle schoolers learn to play duets together for the spring concert.
Something I was glad my college applied lesson professors (the Marcolivia duo) offered was that they went and had a clinic with the schools I was student teaching at and demonstrated true professional performance technique with the students. I noticed this encouraged my students to practice more and try more advanced skills. I had to beat them off with a stick to stay with my lesson plans when they wanted to stop everything and learn vibrato for two months straight. Hopefully, you might be able to organize something similar with your local symphony?
Now, for a more long-term set of goals, think about having the more talented and devoted group of students start playing at PTA meetings (is that what they're called anymore?) and/or school board meetings. When they perform, have literature available for parents, teachers, and administration to read about the benefits of a full fledged music program. Write editorials to the local newspaper. Have the more advanced players go out into the community and play for Christmas gatherings, or the like. No matter the method, get the public to know that there is a tiny music program in existence, and it has the potential to grow into something grand. All it needs is some support from the community and the school systems.
I feel your pain about a suffering music program. I've seen some horrid things myself throughout my musical career, and I haven't even graduated with my teaching license yet! I give you my moral support, and I honestly believe that good things are now going to come about since you are there and have a mind to start making chances for the better.
Yay for music people who actually give a damn about their music programs!!
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