Are We Successful Teachers?

Last week's #MusEdChat on Twitter focused on what makes a music teacher successful. We discovered the answer is varied depending on the perspective of parents, students, administrators, and ourselves. I always love these chats and I can't wait for the next one. They always make me think a little deeper. It's not talk about philosophy instead of just pedagogy. Honestly, I think more deeply about pedagogy most of the time.

Anyway, we tweeted about all these different groups. We talked of how sometimes parents just want it to be fun for their kids. I spoke about the idea of teaching parents during the school concert. An Informance instead of a Performance if you will. Teachers all view their own success very differently, some more noble than others. I wish I was more noble actually...and then bringing up administrators always starts an uproar.

The most important group for me is the students. Sure, I want to myself and my peers to view me as successful. I want the administrators and parents to respect what I do. However, if they students don't see me as successful, what kind of leader or teacher am I? I'm not a clown to entertain them, but I am there to be a counselor, their musicality leader, an explorer, a knowledge giver as well as seeker, and many other things.

Since I let me former students find me on Facebook, I put up a post asking what makes a successful teacher? I was impressed that a few took the time to tell me. Even more impressed that one(who is a history ed major now) sent me a paper he wrote for class. So here are some response excerpts below. What do your kids think?


"I feel a music teacher should be judged on his musicianship and how he uses it to improve his students' musicianship. The teachers who go out of their way and use their time to help a student in need or a student who just wants to be the best is always a teacher I would choose. Also I feel that teacher should push his students to their greatest potential and not give up on any student because he, the teacher, doesn't feel the student has the capablilties to improve or expand. Lastly and most importantly: I feel a music teacher should have a great love for all musics and children or teens (whatever age group) he is working with and should accept any student, no matter their skill level, who comes to him with an intrest in music and accept that student with open arms."


"Have fun and being able to connect with the students and just lay back and have a blast playing!"


"Discipline is extremely important because you also earn respect from your students. And strong leadership skills will tell students that you are the one in charge-not them."


"I think its a combination of two things, character and wisdom. Students won't respect a teacher unless they see something there to respect, if you know your stuff and your able to portray that knowledge in an interesting way I think you've got it made. I know that if I have a professor that is more knowedgeable about music than I could ever hope to be and that professor can show that through his conducting, his assistance with different instruments, personal accounts, and on a one on one basis that is the best teacher I can get. And I would hope that, at least on a collegiate level, that respect would counter the need for discipline."


"talking and getting to know your students. that way you know and understand what drives them to work hard and improve."


"...seemingly in constant motion with one thing or another going. ..Very early on in my education, I was inspired by my teachers. I admired their work ethic and their ability to make me enjoy learning. That was quite an accomplishment with my case, for I was not too interested in learning at that time. "

I hope those first couple of classes of mine, the grads of 08-10 continue to think as well as post goofy videos on FB. :)

Dr. Fansler Visits RIHS

So today was a treat for me and some of the kids who really enjoy playing in HS band. We had a guest conductor, Dr. Mike Fansler from Western Illinois University. It was like going back in time, yet I feel so much wiser. I want to go back and redo a lot from my time in undergrad.


He was one of my college band directors and my academic advisor. So many of the things I've learned have came from this great conductor, educator, and musician. However, I didn't sound quite like that in college. I fought him on some stupid thing and didn't practice enough. I should just send him an email that says, "you were right about everything. I'm sorry. KF" Would've, could've, should've doesn't get us very far does it? It really makes me excited about the next steps in my life.

This is the first time I've seen him conduct in three years and nice to see some things I do(and some things I should be doing) I want to get to that level of artistry, but I realize the same people I knew years ago might not understand that about me. Oh well I guess I've grown up a bit. Maybe that's the real reason professors tell us to teach for a few years before getting our Master's, to grow up.

It disappoints me that the band still wasn't all that quiet. Sure they were much better than when I was on the podium or when my colleague is, but it still just had an undercurrent of bad attitude. I feel like that's poisoning me. It's just expected and I can't get my mind around that. The kids tell me I don't fit in and I don't think that's bad. I wish some of them would break the mold too. They deserve it, Fansler commented on how there were some great things in rehearsal. He's right I feel bad that those kids and the greatness they have is stifled. It's not "cool."

I've been around the country a bit over the last few months and I'm starting to wonder where life will take me. Lots of opportunities are out there. The brave go get them wherever they may be. Just look at Dr. Fansler's bio. Virginia, New York, Tennessee, Illinois. He went and got what he wanted. I hope I have the courage to do the same. My future students will benefit from it, whomever they may be.

Thanks Dr. Fansler. You are right and I can't wait to get out there and try my best to create my own story and successes.

.

I'm Getting Through to Them

Maybe not all of them or even most of them. However, it's enough at this point to make me pretty happy. I know I posted about how don't like when teachers get excited about the good stuff and try to discredit the bad, but here's some good as I sit here after school in an empty band room with a stack of solo/ensemble music on my desk.

Today a 7th grade flutist was outside my office. The girl next to hear said, "practice makes perfect". She responded, "No it doesn't, practice makes permanent." I leaned out and asked her where she heard that and just smiled and said, "You."

On Facebook a former student wrote on my wall about her semester abroad so far. She's been in Spain for two days now. She wrote, "Last night when walking around Madrid, there were a lot of musicians out - a small harp thing, a violin, a flute, and a saxophone in different places. That's my favorite thing about music.. it's found around the world and understood by all languages. :)" Now that I'll use next time a kid asks me why the put forte instead of "loud". I didn't have a huge impact on her musically, but I'm glad she thought enough of me to let me know that music is still in her life.

I spend a lot of time talking about drum corps. I should've marched, I really regret not doing it. My constant references to it has caused a former horn player to try out for the Glassmen. She messaged me to get some advice on slurring since that's what the told her to work on for camp. She's hoping for one of the 7 open spots and I really hope she get one. I'll be glad to cheer on the Glassman as well as the Colts this Summer.

We are working heavily on tuning in MS Band. I know they're starting to get it, but I hope I'm not creating snobs(some of the kids who can really hear the waves make some terribly scrunched faces when other don't fix it). Each day we select a random section to check on how well they have tuned through the process. They are starting to talk about their "intonation" what a great word for some middle schoolers.

Well I must get back to work. Solo and Ensemble music will not pick itself now will it?

School Resumes

Well we are back in session. I wish the new quarter would've started yesterday, but it's not for another week. Even though the kids are recharged(and kind of crazy) and the teachers rested(and slightly lethargic) we're in the last two weeks of a grading period. Odd.

On a personal note I had a great break. I don't think I said this before, but I got engaged just a few days before my last post. This means some of break was used on beginning to plan a wedding that is over a year away. I had no idea there was so much to do. We looked at venues, spent lots of time talking, got information from her parents(no word on mine yet), and had an engagement party.

The party was great we met a little Irish pub in normal with about 40 friends, mostly theater people I've met as a music director while my fiancee has been on stage. I even got to see some of my former students. It's weird to think that by the time I'm married all of my first high school band will have graduated high school. They're off doing all kinds of things and it was the highlight of my night to hear about it. One just left for Spain to study a semester abroad before coming home to be a nurse. Many of them have continued playing two as music majors, one as a minor, many in their unversity marching bands, and one is almost member of the Glassmen(good luck Kory). It just makes me so happy that they're keeping music in their lives on that level.

I did a lot of article reading over break. Your basic stuff I guess how to be a better director and more importantly how to be an educator. What can I teach my students about music through music while performing music? That's from one of my books, "Teaching Music Through Performance" and it's really great to work on that. I'm trying to get my students into reflecting on their performances, we wrote short essays after watching a tape of our concert and I'm thinking about doing that once a month with great ensembles playing the literature we're playing. I'd like to do a listening journal next year...if anyone has thoughts on that it'd be great.

I read about different methods of score study because I'm trying to find something that really works for me. I'm almost through my first score using a method I'm developing and I think it's helping me to understand the pieces with more depth. I'll outline my plan sometime on here incase it maybe benifical to someone. I wish I would've done this two years ago...but we have to keep improving or we die. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

How can I  become a better music educator, pursue my dreams of higher education, and not drive my fiancee crazy in 2010? Stay tuned.

A SIP Day Question

Today we had a half day with students and then meetings all afternoon. I pose a simple question...

Why is it that when students write us a note or say something nice we feel like we matter, but when a student is hurtful we're not supposed to let it bother us because it's "meaningless"?

Just a thought as I watched the video clip that our principal showed us today during our meeting to help to inspire good teaching.

Impact

Even though I headed off to a new school this Summer and I'm always ready for my next adventure. All parts of my past hold a special place in my heart. I think back fondly about my mom patiently listening to me practice as a beginner(you know that's not a pleasant sound).

I remember a lot of firsts. The first WIU band camp, we played "In the Shining of the Stars" and as I was playing I thought about the great friends I made. My father cried because he thought it was beautiful and he'd never got to hear me play in anything like that in school band. The first IMEA Concert, one of many I made it every year, jazz and concert band from 7th grade on. All-State was a real treat, never had I been around such inspiration. All these things have helped shape me as an educator. They all lit a fire in me.

College was a lot more experiences. Things that would take too long for this quick little window I have before my next class.

My first job will always hold a special place in my heart. It wasn't perfect, I can't say it was my dream job. I would gladly taken a bigger position right out of school, but things happen for a reason. I met some of the most incredible young men and women there. Even from across the state I'm enjoying hearing about them and what they're accomplishing.

I got this note today after attending a marching band festival on an off weekend for me where I saw my old band and some former students. Names are changed to keep this parent and student anonymous, but it really made me realize how great of an impact I can have.

"As always, thank you for the positive advice. Both John and I talked after we saw you Saturday. We agree that you are destine to do great things and have an awesome future ahead of you. Keep writing and inspiring because your excitement is a magnet for others who love music! You certainly touch others where ever you go- "

I love my job.

Band Kids Say...

UPDATE: 5/29/09
I don't really remember that show about kids saying funny stuff, but I realize it happens all the time here. Lately it seems that I'm spending just as much time laughing as my students. Here's a few gems that have come up in rehearsal. Maybe I'll resolve to do this once in awhile sometimes nice to just enjoy what happens in between the notes. It's all part of the gig right?

"I think my instrument is broken. It won't play low."
"I think my trombone is broken. It won't play high."
- Two of my 7/8 Band guys

"That's not spit it's her trombone crying because she doesn't practice." - 6th grade trumpet player

"Simon and Garfunkel? Isn't that the moose and squirrel?" - 6th grade Percussionist

"One Word: Matching shorts." - Senior drumline...can you believe it?

"So do you fish for bass because it's spelled the same as bass?" - one student talking to my bassist who lives to play it.

The Woodwind and Brasswind

Despite my brass players best debating, it is in fact called the "Woodwind and Brasswind" not the other way around. I won't lie though...I said the same thing in high school when I made my first trip to one of largest music stores in the country. Yes, right before I became a freshman I took my first trip there to buy the trumpet I still play on today. The store was in a different location, but it didn't lack the magic that I was so excited to share with some of my students.

I took some of my most dedicated advancing students on a 3 hour car trip to South Bend to upgrade some of their equipment. They spent hours testing out new gear, having me listen until they found stuff that was going to help elevate their playing. Of course they also understood that by doing this they are also helping the band.

It was really cool to get to see them go through that process. Something that I really think all musicians need to try is that test of equipment to help them find their own sound. It was astounding how much a mouthpiece and ligature can do!



Here's a picture of them out in front of the huge sax/trumpet fountain by the store.

I was so glad that I got to take them on this trip, other students are already asking when I'll be taking another group. When the energy is high students can do so much. I love that.