It's Really February?

Well the post below is the February Blog Carnival so I guess it must be true. I can't tell you how quickly January came and went. I really enjoyed the challenges of January after the LONG break. Wright State takes a break from Thanksgiving to New Years, so other than the basketball games I didn't have a whole lot going on. Then these three events hit!

Conducting the Fight Song after the Win over Butler

First the biggest weekend(so far) of college basketball where we played Valpo and Butler on our home court. Have I mentioned that I love being the Athletic Band Director for a Div I basketball team? How many grad students get that wonderful opportunity? Anyway we split the weekend losing to Valpo and beating Butler. The win against conference rivals, Butler was something I'll remember. We combined both bands and had almost 70 members all in uniform, playing and cheering all night. There were just 9,000 fans in attendance. The feeling of raising my hands for the Star Spangled Banner and having all those people come to their feet was amazing. The whole game was electric really, all the way down to the Vaughn Duggins buzzer beater and the crowd rushing the court. I hope an NCAA or NIT bid is on the way...I would love to take my band on that adventure. I have such a vision for where I can take this group in my two year appointment.

Dr. Booth, Myself, and Professor Ponto 

Then we had Tri-State Honor Band. I had been putting the details of the honor band in place since October, but this weekend it all came together. Professor Robert Ponto was in From Oregon to work with kids from Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio on our campus. I loved hanging with the guest conductor and organizing the event as well as playing for the HS kids in the Wind Symphony. Dr. Booth may call me a nerd, but I'm glad I'm detailed, the whole thing seemed to go off without a hitch. I'm working on making a handbook to TSHB to pass down after next year.

After TSHB 2011 was capped off by a 5AM drive with Ponto to the airport, I focused on IMEA. The return to Illinois to present a clinic with Keith Ozsvath was great. We spoke to a room of fellow music educators about how to use Twitter and Facebook to have your own 24/7 Professional Development. Not everyone got into it, remember that "acquaintance" lady? Overall, the reception was great and I need to start looking into what I am going to propose for next year. It's like an addiction, I just can't get enough time to praise the use of technology to make us better teachers. Of course the other side is I got to go to all kinds of clinics and learn for myself. I really loved two of the clinics that had demonstration bands, one about new approaches to ensemble tuning, and the other about teaching musicality and expression. Inspiring! Seeing friends with Jes was a lot fun and it makes me wonder where will land after these couple of years in Ohio. What should I propose for the session next year? Ideas?

In personal news. The wedding train is chugging along thanks to my diligent future wife. She cuts through her to do list like none other. We've done engagement photos, bought her band, ordered invitations in the last month. I'm sure there's more, but that's what comes to mind. Oh and I've got the website up and running.

It's all great and I've enjoyed taking a bit of time this evening to put it together. Next week is a conducting workshop with Dr. Stephen Davis from UMKC at Ball State with Dr. Thomas Caneva. Better get back to studying my Holst and Dello Joio scores! Have a great night and make sure to share your blogs with me. I'd love to read what's going on out there.

IMEA Day 3 Clinic 2

No Child Left Behind: Implications of the Research for Music Education - Clinician: Dr. Timothy Gerber
We are trying to convince people today that we're important. We must be advocates and at the grassroots level. This NCLB is actually a reauthorization of an education act from 1965. We need to be advocating with people who can change things(principals, boards, parents)
"I understand the need for stem disciplines, but we should be a school that focuses on "steam" disciplines. This creates well-rounded students." Now we're talking about "stem" disciplines Science, Tech, Engineering, Math. "Let's go from "stem" to "steam" Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts, Math. If a school doesn't make AYP it "reconstitutes" the school. Fire everyone and start over. It says that low scores are caused by teachers. Not entirely true.
Parents could help with test scores by:
1. turning off tv
2. go to bed earlier
3. help with homework
4. get a good breakfast

If a school is judged solely on these tests. It must take time from the non-tested subject. The reputation is on the line! "We test what we value and we value what we test" If we test music education will it help? If you do test, what do you test? Study shows only 50% of 8th graders couldn't aurally identify what instrument begins Rhapsody in Blue. Is this what we should be testing? Is this an achievement? ''

How can we help while maintaining the integrity of our discipline? Music should stand on its own. However we can assist our colleagues in math/reading. We need to start spending energy on elementary music to improve feeders all the way up.
What this is really making me think is that I want to do a cross-cirricular unit on the "Great Locomotive Chase or "Stonehenge". I plan to talk to the SIMS teachers about this next week. I hope it's something they want to get involved in with me. Maybe Mrs. Owrig is doing a unit I can tie in with too!
What is music's impact on the economy?

Look up these Charles Fowler guy "Strong Arts, Strong Schools"

The role of the arts encouraging college aspirations.

I know this was kind of disjunct, but I think it'll help me remember to do some of these things. How are we making sure we're part of a well-balanced education?

2010 IMEA Presentation Clinic Feedback Form

The Virtual Podium Presentation 2010 - Feedback Survey

Please click above to take a short survey about the presentation! I can't wait to here from more music educators who are using technology. You can find me on Twitter(KFreesen) and email me anytime at K.Freesen@gmail.com

Thanks and have a great rest of the conference.

IMEA Conference Day 2 Clinic 4

Yes, I know I skipped 3. My computer went dead and the room was so full that I couldn't get to an outlet. On the upside it was on advocacy and Jes came with me. It was nice to sit with her since we go to completely different clinics the whole conference. Pretty nice handout, but I don't know how much of it applicable this juncture in my career.

"Composition 101" Clinician: Robin Giebelhausen, Libertyville (HMS)
 Robin is discussing how we can't be scared of composing. It's not Bach and Beethoven. Use the instruments they play! We can't scare students either, feedback...teach them positvely and give them easy conventions(ex end on do) I'm hoping I can use some of these things to possibly teach a Knox College for Kids class on Composition.

Use composition for sightreading. Use just 1 3 5. The kids might actually like sightreading because of it. I think makes more sense for choral settings. This seems to be very geared towards general music. I was hoping get some more concrete techniques. I don't like that we're not using notation. I'm not really able to step out of my comfort zone on compositions.

Symphony project sounds cool. Each student has to do 4 movements form, slow, dance-like, and one like the first(ex credit) it's all done in garage band loops and midi input. She mentioned Audacity too. I think this is going to be the ticket if I want to do that. Usuing a wikispace will probably be the way to go. I wonder if Knox has a computer lab that I could use? The technology she's using is very similar to what Brenda talked about yesterday. That's comforting to see what's out there is being used by more people.

She says to compose a long with them. That's what I'm talking about! Kids love seeing us try too!

Now I'm taking a break until my presentation at 5. I think I'll swing back to the hotel and relax. I feel bad about skipping out on a few sessions, but hopefully it'll get me in the right frame of mind to be engaging and dynamic to anyone who comes to my session.

IMEA Conference Day 2 Clinic 2

I wish someone actually read these except for myself, but at least I'm creating a resource for myself. This section is all about being student-centered while teaching a performance based class.

Intergrating a Student-Centered Instructional Style within a Performance-Based Band Rehearsal" Clinician Dr. Joseph Manfredo and Mr. Matt Temple

This isn't about our conducting this is about our teaching. We have to intuitive and flexible. There are multiple styles. We facilitate because the class should be "student-centered" not "student-led". How do we bring effectiveness in our classrooms? Tell me...

Exploring our relationship with students in an ensemble. They are dependent on us(play that note longer), then collaborative(how can we shape this phrase), and if they're really learning independent(and in to it!)
We're watching a video of Matt Temple from New Trier HS teaching. He just had the band listen to a percussion opening facing forward, now he's making them name(catalog) what they heard. I think this would work for me. This was more student-led than we just talk at them(do this. play that.)

I like this thought, "we have four years to create musicians who can think critically, not just burn out by repeating music until it's a great performance" Matt says, it's messy and out of our comfort zone as students and teachers, but worth it. Fast is slow. Slow is fast. When we help our students to understand it takes time at first, but as we move to the next concert it's faster because the learning curve is faster. They don't need us as much. That's the mark of a good teacher right? That the student no longer needs the teacher.

So what they seem to be saying is that I need to be able control gesture, evaluate aurally, and ask question. The director is a facilitator, not a dictator. We need to create an environment that keeps people engaged. Students have all the answers, kids are kids wherever you go...tap their potential! EVERY student must make independent descisions. For me this means don't call on Kelli E or Kristin W :)

How do I create discovery-based organic, authentic learning?
- Ask them questions about why the composer wrote what they wrote? How do you think this phrase should go? Which accent do you think will be the strongest? Let's have some comments about how they phrased this.
- Rephrase your statements as questions.
- Make eye contact. Look right at people not generally, in the eyes.
- Teach be contrast. To fix the balance play with bad balance, etc...
- Be honest, but not mean. They need a gauge or a benchmark.
- Ask guided question, zigzag with the students, but have your goal in mind.
- Develop your interpretation, but don't be afraid to let students have input and ask them how did they arrive at that answer? It's important to have a unified interpretation, not always mine ideas.
- Not rights or wrongs, but justification for their ideas.
- Deflect questions to sections who aren't playing, even if you're working one group engage others.

It's interesting because I feel like I know this stuff, but I just don't implement it. Stupid Freesen, why don't we just do the right thing all the time?

Discovery based activities:
Periods of ambiguity - They have to feel like they can take risks(student and teacher)
Not fear based, let them be open and honest.
You have to balance. director leads, students lead. Seamlessly through the rehearsal.

They say these things will help our students retain. I just can't get people quiet enough to ask a lot of questions, kids are kids...but why can't I get mine quiet enough to realize the music we're doing is cool even if it's not "Crazy Train" sigh...I'm finding this one to be a little tough to swallow because I feel like I'm not doing enough. To self-evaluate I feel like part of it is that I don't relate as well to younger students. Does that make me lesser or just not quite in the right gig for me?

Primary Motto: Ask, Don't Tell.

IMEA Conference: Day 2 Clinic 1

After a long afternoon in the 408, dubbed the "tech" room. I heard the Libertyville Wind Ensemble last night it was amazing. More on all that later...

"Help for Your Young Horn Players" Clinicians: Rachel Maxwell and Meghan Fulton
It's 8AM and I'm very excited to be in my first clinic of day 2, this one is "Help for your Horn Players" by clinicians Rachel Maxwell and Meghan Fulton from Oswego. They brought their JH 6-8 horns(there's at least 16 of them) They sounded great during their warm up. This will be a good one!

Talking about right hand position, put masking tape in the bell to help them fix hand position. Great way to help them get good intonation from the start. I like that one. I have a handout on this so I won't type it word for word, but the tricks will go right here. No need to type needlessly right?

I didn't know this tip either, when playing stopped horn always play on the F side, no trigger. Want the kids to have better accuracy? Stay on them breathing through the corners. Get them mirrors and "free buzz" to make sure both lips are buzzing.  Good for all Brass players put the shank of the mouthpiece to teach the openness needed to play with a more beautiful tone. I'll be using this. To set before we play try this: Play pitch, off face, play pitch...do this ten times to create that sense of attack. "Slow motion" playing I wonder how my kids would adapt to that...is subdivision an issue with this? They also use the B.E.R.P. a lot I remember having one as trumpet player, but I didn't care for it. Might worth checking out. Another way to do that is leadpipe buzzing, I had heard of that one.

When teaching tonguing put your tongue on top teeth and try blow, you have to move it. Help them understand tonguing in that way. "Toh" to "Doh" syllables for horns. This seems to me to promote that open throat. She also uses the older kids as teachers, I mean 8th graders helping 6th graders! I love having my students work that way. When empyting spit turn to the right...

Starting kids on double horn makes sense, but if they start on a single F that's ok. Switch them to double as soon as they overblowing it and have an octave range. Note to self: Check out the packet on tuning individual slides. Where to place horn in the ensemble, that I can use! I'm always moving my horn section around. I've been validated, by this teacher(she says horns in front of saxes!!) Help them both: saxes learn to blend, horns get help hearing their pitches. You know I'd forgotten about Fansler's "Horn Shields" maybe I'll construct some for my bands.

I'm glad these ladies have their email addresses listed. Maybe I can recruit for the tech side. They must be cool they wore t-shirts to the clinic that says "French Horn Hero" with flames and such. Time to shut my computer and find out where I'm off to next!

IMEA Conference 2010: Day 1

I'm blogging live from the Illinois Educator's Music Educators Conference. Thanks to Dr. Neal Smith for pushing the higher ups to get us this access. I'm going to just update this post throughout my journey though presentations. Here's the first one!

Presentation 1: "Getting Webby" Clinician: Mrs. Brenda Muench
She showed us her classroom and now she's teaching us about using Skype. We're now talking to Zach G. who's a 2nd grader at her school. Wow, I need to start using Skype more. Especially to talk to friends and colleagues who are starting to spread out all over the country! She says she can use this to talk to experts in her classroom. Ex. Hear violins played through Skype since her school doesn't have an orchestra!

The next thing she shows my fiancee might enjoy, Listening Adventures this would be great for a elementary instrumental unit! (My favorite general music topic) New York Phil Kids is next she says older kids(3-5) go to the game room to check it out. There are a few neat games here, including some basic composition stuff.
What about composer projects? Classics for Kids includes podcasts on a lot of composers. This is from Cincinnati Public Radio. It also has printable bios, worksheets, wordsearchs, pictures..etc... Free stuff for instrumental lessons! Theory and free sheet music!

Need a Virtual Keyboard or virtual drumset? There they are! Here's a cool one called Play Auditorium cool game. Not a class activity, but I want to play with it! Free notation software? Here it is MuseScore. Free recording from your computer? Of course! Audacity layers, speed, pitch all there.

There was a bit more, but she started running out of time. So much stuff. Luckily, it's all available on her blog which is down in my "Freesen's Readin" list. Next up...

Presentation 2: "Google Me" Clinician: Carol Broos
Her Presentation it's all here because she's honest about how fast she goes! I should google Golden Apple Scholars...wow! Carol's Blog FYI. I need to check out this "prezi" thing...here I am reminding myself to Google that. I think for this one I'll just list what I want to work with in this one.
- Google Squared - a Google Labs search that will give you all the information in a table!
- Google Groups - set up for email activity and this could be useful.
- Google Maps - New tricks for an old dog! You can put in infomation and embed! Who knew!
- Google Alerts - right under my nose. Yet wasn't using it!
- Google Forms(through Docs) - I started playing with this, but I think I'm going to work on this more. Freezing columns, all the summary and data tools are great. I will be using this a lot more.

I really enjoyed Carol's presentation. I'm such a huge google fan(obviously I use blogger) Now the conference has started. I'm so excited. IMEA is really here!

Since this got long I'll probably do another post tonight. Then more tomorrow.

My IMEA Presentation Slide Show

I want people to have access to my presentation. I'm putting a link to it in my handout, but I thought it might be nice to have it here.

Plus, I get to test out an embedded slideshow! All through the magic of Google. They should cut me a check for how much I promote them.

IMEA Presentation

Calling All Music Teachers!

How many times have you wished that you could hear exactly what you needed to at a clinic? You're spending over an hour of your time and I'm sure we've all been to a presentation in which we did not find the value. Now is your chance to help customize a session to meet your needs.

I have been selected to present at the IMEA All-State Conference this year and I couldn't be more honored. My presentation will be entitled "The Virtual Podium: Band Communication Blogging". However, you can help customize the content right now by leaving comments on this blog post! By helping you are proving the power of this type of communication tool!

I'm looking for input of any kind so that my presentation will benefit you. For example:

• Format. Do you want me to post a big screen and create a blog in front of you?
• Examples. Do you have pages you'd like me to use in my presentation? Send 'em!
• Student applications. How will this work for them?
• Parent application. How will this work for them?
• Public Relations. You're doing great things! Let them know.
• Administration support. We could all use that right?
• Other internet communications...ideas here are welcome!
• Professional networking. Personal blogs and networking sites.

Does any of this sound interesting/not interesting to you? That list is kind of my starting point, any feedback is appreciated. Thank you for your time and I look forward to making my presentation/clinic better with your help!

IMEA Conference

I always love the All-State Conference in Peoria. Here's why:

• It brings together music teachers from all over the state!
• The best students in IL get to perform and have great experiences.(I was so glad one of mine got this opportunity)
• I get to go clinics where I learn new things and talk about how to improve myself.
• Of course there's also the exhibit hall...can't go wrong with all that cheesecake.
• Best of all it reignites my passions so I get to be the person I want to be.

This past weekend was the conference and it delivered. I was able to do all of these things. I'm tired, but since one of the sessions has resparked my interest in my professional blog I thought I'd spend my Sunday afternoon blogging a little. So here's "How I Spent My All-State Weekend".

My student and I took off from the HS right as first hour was starting. It was nice to get everything ready and then get on the road. It's also nice that we only at 45 minutes from the conference. We listened to some Coltrane to get the vibe going for his audition. Did I mention he was a tenor player? Anyway, we got there with plenty of time to spare. I got him settled for his audition and then went to register.

Awesome Moment #1 - When I returned he was jamming on an Ellington tune with five other kids who were waiting to audition. How cool that this is what they chose to do, a bunch of 17 year olds who had never met, just playing.

After all was said and done I headed off to sessions where I got a text from him saying he was lead tenor All-State Jazz Band. It was the perfect place for him to be as a junior. However, anywhere in the state bands would be an honor. We met up for food after some rehearsal and...

Awesome Moment #2 - Over meals I had a chance to talk with him a lot. I really wish more of my students could have experienced this, but it couldn't have happened to a more humble kid. He got quiet and when I asked what was up he just talk about how the "magnitude" of this whole event was blowing him away. He couldn't believe he was worthy of this. He is.

We had a little bit of hotel drama. There was water damage and we were just weren't in the nicest place anyway. I guess I shouldn't really complain since our school does cover it all. We got back to the hotel around 10:30 and both went right to sleep. It was a great first day.

The second day was more of the same. I went to some great sessions by Milt Allen from EIU. I wonder how EIU would be for graduate work. I had lunch with some other teachers, one the guy I student taught under, the other my predecessor at EPG. It was cool to just talk shop(and other things) with friends.

Awesome Moment #3 - As I left lunch it was cool to reflect on all of the conferences I had attended here. I was able to go as a senior in high school. I went every year of college and then student teaching. Last year I was a teacher with no students and this year with a student. It's been different, but enjoyable in every stage. I'm pretty lucky huh?

That night was the concert. When the students got out of rehearsal we went to dinner, but I sat across the restaurant. Now he had made friends and I wanted to give him space. How cool. We made it over to the concert and I took my seat in a box. I love the box seating in the Civic Center Theatre. I was more nervous than he was, but when he finished his first solo the place went nuts. I can't even imagine how he felt. I'm so glad IMEA gives this opportunity to these kids.

Awesome Moment #4 - Seeing a student that I see everyday successfully soloing on stage at the All-State Conference in front of hundreds.

That night I went out with Ben and Jordan, two of the Galesburg band guys. We sat for a couple hours just talking about students I'd known and everything else you could imagine. I really miss that district. I had a really great experience there, maybe someday I'll be back. Band directors are kind of nomadic aren't they?

The next morning is the reason I am back here blogging away. I went a clinic about this stuff because I'm presenting next month at my school about using blogs as a communication tool. I was shocked that after speaking a little at the end of Mrs. Muench's clinic a few people came up to ask about my blogging specific to being a band director.

Awesome Moment #5 - The IMEA Technology Chair asked me to submit for presenting next year. I was flattered for sure. I thought only experienced teachers and college professors got to do that, but he was for sure I'd have something to offer.

The conference was slowing down. I walked the exhibit hall and saw that my band's new uniforms were being featured at the DeMoulin booth. Again, pretty cool that they thought that highly of my design. After saying some goodbyes, I turned in my CPDU's and walked out.

I think I slept for the next 20 hours, but it was worth it. I am already excited for next year!