Tag: teacher
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The Invisible Act of Differentiation
A few weeks before I meet my students, I am already thinking about differentiation. I meet with parents and guardians, learn more about the students who will walk into my classroom, and begin to imagine what this particular group of musicians might sound like. One student may need more support to be successful, while another…
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Sports, Identity, and Complicated Feelings
Every once in a while, sports become about much more than the game itself. This summer, two very different moments left me thinking about identity in ways I hadn’t expected. On one hand, I found myself smiling as a lifelong New Yorker watching the Knicks win the NBA Finals. The celebration wasn’t just about basketball—it…
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Imposter Syndrome Article
I came across an article that aligns with me and my students. I can’t help but share this one. 15 Ways to Navigate Imposter Syndrome
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Engaging Music Education: Freedom and Creativity in Performance Classes
Project-based performance classes are a fun and dynamic way to get students playing instruments that aren’t usually part of a traditional orchestra, like electric guitars and drum sets. After hearing from students that they wanted more chances to perform and be involved in music, I decided to switch to this format. Our curriculum is designed…
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Teaching Orchestra and Band in a Digital Space: Day 15
Close One and Cheers: Like most Friday’s before a break from school occurs, thing are bound to go wrong. Sometimes it’s students behaving unruly or planned events that disrupt the day, like a class parties. You never know what might come up of these days. Today my “WTF” moment happened due to poor bandwidth. Now…
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Teaching Orchestra and Band in a Digital Space: Day 14
Tired: On a typical day I feel like I get to move around a fair amount. With conducting ensembles and moving around campus, I might even say I am very active. On occasion I might get a work out before my day starts. However, since the coronavirus era of teaching started, my movements have been…
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Teaching Orchestra and Band in a Digital Space: Day 13
Live sound in a virtual space: Now that things are settling into what seem more and more a regular routine, I started to ask some fundamental questions about the user experience within my virtual platform. How is the sound of my voice received by my students? When I speak or demonstrate on my instruments, what…
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Teaching Orchestra and Band in a Digital Space: Day 12
Three Great Moments In One Virtual School Day Today I had several experiences with students and colleagues which are cause for acknowledgement, appreciation and gratitude. Teaching Assistant Before the term started, one of my students in the advanced orchestra approached me about being a teaching assistant. Currently, the school doesn’t have a policy regarding this,…
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