by Liam Comerford 4 years ago
233
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Understanding budget, purchasing and organising program taken care of/ not openly shared with me
Limited opportunities to run ensembles (other teachers run all ensembles)
Little responsibility to organise trips, competitions, or costs with budget
Only worried about running the classes
Working on and Learning Parts
Lack of focus or desire to work on music if it isn't their part/ they don't have the melody
How Do I Make Learning Ensembleship Engaging??
Students only want to sing the songs they know and like - Nothing in a language that isn't English - Nothing that is 'old fashioned'
Students designed 4-chord Vocal Mash-up and performed at Spring Concert
- Student driven - Authentic learning - Different from standard choral pieces
Cost and Timing
Support and Funding from Admin
- Is there money in the budget? - Can the school help pay for this? - If I'm out of options, is how viable is paying them under the table?
Booking them can be difficult - Your schedule vs. Theirs
Amazing opportunity for authentic, real world leaning
Establishes strong connections with community leaders and artists
Can be from a variety of topics that will engage beyond 'Band' or 'Choir'
Funding and School Support
Conflicts with other Arts Courses - Why does Music seem to get the short straw when it comes to new and innovative courses/ opportunities?
Support and Advertising for courses
Battle for funds to create program
Provides a different, more ear and trial and error based learning environment
Engages the not-usual 'Band' kids
Balance of Instruments: - Strong chance of having little to no low brass - Lots of Saxes, but no one wants to play Tenor or Bari - Electric Basses, how many is too many?
Issues with Percussion: - Do I delay having ANYONE play percussion? - How do I keep percussion engaged when learning parts? - Can I get everyone to learn both Wind Instrument skills AND Percussion skills?
My board provides Chromebooks to students BUT
Chromebooks are limited in what they can do
Ensemble Playing
Other colleagues in other boars have had their students record parts and edit it together to create a full performance
My Issue - I don't have the editing skills to put this together - I likely will not have the time to put consistent mass ensemble videos often
Equity issue again - Access to recording tech - Space to practice and record
Sharing resources - Copyright issue? - What I have access to share (not all instruments) - Not all resources I currently have are beginner student friendly
Dedicated time for students to get one-on-one teaching
How do I make sure that they are not underwhelmed by Beginner stuff, and overwhelmed by Expert stuff?
How do I engage them to grow on the abilities they have begun to build?
How can I get them up to a solid base of ability as quickly and meaningfully as possible without rushing them?
How do I keep them engaged and challenged when helping to bring up new and beginning students?
Outside of School PD
Issue Here - Financing - Most likely my own $$ - Can't interfere with School Schedule - Distance and Time
OMEA & Other Conferences
Cambrian College Conducting Symposium
UofT Conducting Symposium
Feeling like I am stagnating in teaching ability when not teaching music
Limited opportunity to establish roots in a school and program
