This past week was my Birthday week in Orlando. My students were extremely kind and giving on my Birthday providing me with more than enough cupcakes, cakes, cookies, candy bars, balloons and well-wishes. It was certainly a great way to head into Spring break which officially started yesterday, Friday, and will continue until April 2nd.
Besides it being my Birthday week, this week was full of new ideas and new opportunities. On Thursday, my co-op announced that we will be doing a workshop and concert next Friday with the Florida State University Chamber Choir under the direction of Dr. Andre Thomas. Dr. Thomas is a phenomenal conductor, music educator, composer and philosopher of choral music who not only teaches full time at FSU but also takes part in clinics and honor choirs all across the world on a regular basis. He is one of the most sought after clinicians in the country. It just so happens that Dr. Thomas heard about the choral program at Freedom high school and decided he wanted to do a collaborative activity with our students, so thus we have a workshop. Next Friday, all of our students will combine with the FSU chamber choir at the Cathedral in downtown Orlando to share our choral music, combine on a couple of songs, give a final concert and complete a professional recording of our works. Not only is this a huge experience and opportunity for the students, it is a huge excitement for me. I have heard so much about Dr. Thomas during my stay in Orlando and am beyond excited to see him work and hear his ensemble. It is the unexpected opportunities like these that make coming to Florida even more worth it and enjoyable than I ever expected it to be.
In my piano class, my students have finally discovered that the electronic keyboards they use everyday have greater functions than just a standard keyboard. They have figured out how to make different noises, sounds, instruments and beats using the keyboard settings and have decided we should do some sort of project employing these features. My response? Why not?! What better way to encourage individual creative practices while at the same time explore features of the keyboard? When they return from break, we will begin a project where they will have to use the settings on the keyboard and the application Garageband that is available on their Mac computers (the keyboards are all hooked up to the Macs) to create tracks that we will then record and compile in a class mix tape. While there will be some restrictions like duration and timeline, most of this assignment will be left up to the imagination of the students. I am very eager to see what they come up with musically with their tracks as well as technologically with the software and keyboard. Hopefully I will have some awesome tracks to share with you all by the end of the project!
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Superior
Last Friday, the choirs of Freedom High School participated in the district-level music performance assessment that is required of every choral program in our district and, if I am not mistaken, throughout the state. It is a way of measuring how well your program is doing at this point in the year. The process consists of each ensemble singing a 15 minute set of music for three adjudicators and then completing a sight singing exercise portion that consists of both rhythmic and harmonic sight singing. Freedom took three ensembles to this assessment and I am proud to say that all three ensembles received Superior markings from all three adjudicators on their performances as well as Superior markings for their sight singing completion! Such markings are nearly unheard of in the state of Florida and certainly uncommon in our county. For a school to be so daring as to bring three ensembles and then complete the assessment with such high marks is astounding, or at least, so said the adjudicators.
While receiving high markings at an important event such as this is great for the program and for the school, there was something about this evening of music making that was more significant to me. These students, all 154 of them, gave of themselves and gave their hearts to the performance of these pieces. While the audience consisted of mostly other choral students from the district and their parents, the students at Freedom felt that this music had a story worth conveying to this audience, and they did so in an inspirational manner.
At the end of the Patriot Singer's set, the top ensemble, the audience burst to their feet in a roar of applause because the ensemble had done more than sing a pretty song, they had impacted lives. Mr. Won, my co-operating teacher, has a phrase he likes to say around the chorus room that I think fits perfectly into this story. He says, "We do not perform to impress, we sing to inspire." Such is the culture of the Freedom High School chorus program. These students do not need the accolades and the praise to know that what they are doing is pretty or good, they get that from their teachers. But what satisfies them more is knowing that their musical product can and does change lives.
Last Friday night was a life changing experience not just for the kids singing in the ensemble or the audience members in attendance, but for me, a choir nerd from Missouri who never ceases to be amazed by the raw talent and selflessness his students convey each and every day.
While receiving high markings at an important event such as this is great for the program and for the school, there was something about this evening of music making that was more significant to me. These students, all 154 of them, gave of themselves and gave their hearts to the performance of these pieces. While the audience consisted of mostly other choral students from the district and their parents, the students at Freedom felt that this music had a story worth conveying to this audience, and they did so in an inspirational manner.
At the end of the Patriot Singer's set, the top ensemble, the audience burst to their feet in a roar of applause because the ensemble had done more than sing a pretty song, they had impacted lives. Mr. Won, my co-operating teacher, has a phrase he likes to say around the chorus room that I think fits perfectly into this story. He says, "We do not perform to impress, we sing to inspire." Such is the culture of the Freedom High School chorus program. These students do not need the accolades and the praise to know that what they are doing is pretty or good, they get that from their teachers. But what satisfies them more is knowing that their musical product can and does change lives.
Last Friday night was a life changing experience not just for the kids singing in the ensemble or the audience members in attendance, but for me, a choir nerd from Missouri who never ceases to be amazed by the raw talent and selflessness his students convey each and every day.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Surprise!
Today I received a daunting, albeit exciting, surprise. At the end of the day, my co-operating teacher, Mr. Wondemagegnehu (Mr. Won, for short), came up to me and said "alright, you gotta go be me." I thought he meant he needed me to go make some phone calls for go pick something up in preparation for our competition tomorrow. I was wrong! He continued to inform me that he had scheduled to do a clinic with a local middle school choir after school today without realizing that he had to be our school's musical rehearsal. Rather than rescheduling the clinic, he sent me in his place.
I was extremely nervous going into it, though I am not sure why. I have taught middle school choir before and knew, for the most part, what I was going to need to do. But something about not knowing the repertoire, not knowing the students or the teacher, and knowing that I was supposed to replace Mr. Won had me very intimidated.
I arrived at the school which is clearly from the early 70s and has not been updated since. When I reach the choir room, I am greeted by shouting children and I think to myself, "strap in; it's gonna be bumpy." I quickly found out that this group was the last class of the day and that the ensemble I would work with was coming as soon as the bell rang. When they arrived, the students were very attentive and polite, which made the situation much less uncomfortable for me. After hearing them sing through their two pieces, I began to "clinic," something I didn't feel extremely worthy of doing, yet had to do.
It was a spectacular experience. The ensemble was quite talented; very musical, expressive, sang with good tone, articulate vowels and consonants, etc. As I worked with them, I felt my nerves drift away as I realized that this was just like working with my high school students, only with a different sound coming back at me. I ended up having a blast and realized that not all middle school choirs have to sound or be treated like a middle school choir. I was touched when they asked me to come back some time to share more musical ideas with them. I can only hope that their teacher enjoyed it and appreciated as much as the kids did, and that they will continue to work on and apply some of the concepts I addressed. What a fun way to end the week, eh?
I was extremely nervous going into it, though I am not sure why. I have taught middle school choir before and knew, for the most part, what I was going to need to do. But something about not knowing the repertoire, not knowing the students or the teacher, and knowing that I was supposed to replace Mr. Won had me very intimidated.
I arrived at the school which is clearly from the early 70s and has not been updated since. When I reach the choir room, I am greeted by shouting children and I think to myself, "strap in; it's gonna be bumpy." I quickly found out that this group was the last class of the day and that the ensemble I would work with was coming as soon as the bell rang. When they arrived, the students were very attentive and polite, which made the situation much less uncomfortable for me. After hearing them sing through their two pieces, I began to "clinic," something I didn't feel extremely worthy of doing, yet had to do.
It was a spectacular experience. The ensemble was quite talented; very musical, expressive, sang with good tone, articulate vowels and consonants, etc. As I worked with them, I felt my nerves drift away as I realized that this was just like working with my high school students, only with a different sound coming back at me. I ended up having a blast and realized that not all middle school choirs have to sound or be treated like a middle school choir. I was touched when they asked me to come back some time to share more musical ideas with them. I can only hope that their teacher enjoyed it and appreciated as much as the kids did, and that they will continue to work on and apply some of the concepts I addressed. What a fun way to end the week, eh?
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Where is time going...?
I cannot believe how quickly time is going by. So much has happened in the last few weeks.
This past week, I spent one day observing at another local high school that has a stellar program going. It has been unreal seeing how strong the arts are in Florida. I have come to find that the funding and advocacy for the arts is huge here, more so than in any other state, for the most part.
Wednesday through Saturday, I was at the Southern Division ACDA conference in Winston-Salem, NC. It was an inspirational experience. I had the fortune of hearing some of the best choirs the South has to offer, networked with conductors, composers, teachers and singers from all over the country, and was reminded why I want to be a choral conductor. I enjoyed seeing my conductors from New Jersey who were headlining; Dr. Miller conducted the high school honor choir, which was stunning, Dr. Jordan gave a session on conducting, breath, and body mapping, and Lynnel Jenkins conducted the junior high honor choir, which was also outstanding. Seeing them quenched the bit of homesickness I had been experiencing for Westminster. The highlight of the concert, without question, was a concert by a professional choral ensemble called Seraphic Fire. They are truly one of the most outstanding ensemble I have ever had the pleasure to hear. Here is there website, for those interested: http://www.seraphicfire.org/ I would recommend listening to their music either on Spotify or YouTube; it will probably change your life. Also, Andrea Ramsey, a composer and music educator, gave a great session on the personal impact of singing in choir on students in 7-12 grade. She presented some wonderful research illustrating how important a vocal music experience is to the overall development of people as students and citizens. It reminded me of John Dewey's theory of Teacher as Social Servant, which is the foundation of my Philosophy of Teaching, so I was pretty stoked to sit in on this session.
This week, we have state competition for the top three ensembles. It is going to be crazy doing final preparations, but I think in the end the students will recognize how worth it it is. I am looking forward to hearing the other ensembles from other schools because this district is full of a lot of talent and skill. It is going to be a treat. I will also be having my second observation this week which should go smoothly.
The Vocal Jazz ensemble I started three weeks ago has already memorized one piece and is halfway through a second, so I find myself looking for new repertoire. Ideas? I came across a pretty great arrangement of Empire State of Mind by Alicia Keys while at this conference, and while it is not altogether "jazzy", I think they will really enjoy it and sing it well, so that is next on the docket.
Anyway, I will try to update more regularly. Hope this is providing a nice glimpse into life at Freedom High School!
This past week, I spent one day observing at another local high school that has a stellar program going. It has been unreal seeing how strong the arts are in Florida. I have come to find that the funding and advocacy for the arts is huge here, more so than in any other state, for the most part.
Wednesday through Saturday, I was at the Southern Division ACDA conference in Winston-Salem, NC. It was an inspirational experience. I had the fortune of hearing some of the best choirs the South has to offer, networked with conductors, composers, teachers and singers from all over the country, and was reminded why I want to be a choral conductor. I enjoyed seeing my conductors from New Jersey who were headlining; Dr. Miller conducted the high school honor choir, which was stunning, Dr. Jordan gave a session on conducting, breath, and body mapping, and Lynnel Jenkins conducted the junior high honor choir, which was also outstanding. Seeing them quenched the bit of homesickness I had been experiencing for Westminster. The highlight of the concert, without question, was a concert by a professional choral ensemble called Seraphic Fire. They are truly one of the most outstanding ensemble I have ever had the pleasure to hear. Here is there website, for those interested: http://www.seraphicfire.org/ I would recommend listening to their music either on Spotify or YouTube; it will probably change your life. Also, Andrea Ramsey, a composer and music educator, gave a great session on the personal impact of singing in choir on students in 7-12 grade. She presented some wonderful research illustrating how important a vocal music experience is to the overall development of people as students and citizens. It reminded me of John Dewey's theory of Teacher as Social Servant, which is the foundation of my Philosophy of Teaching, so I was pretty stoked to sit in on this session.
This week, we have state competition for the top three ensembles. It is going to be crazy doing final preparations, but I think in the end the students will recognize how worth it it is. I am looking forward to hearing the other ensembles from other schools because this district is full of a lot of talent and skill. It is going to be a treat. I will also be having my second observation this week which should go smoothly.
The Vocal Jazz ensemble I started three weeks ago has already memorized one piece and is halfway through a second, so I find myself looking for new repertoire. Ideas? I came across a pretty great arrangement of Empire State of Mind by Alicia Keys while at this conference, and while it is not altogether "jazzy", I think they will really enjoy it and sing it well, so that is next on the docket.
Anyway, I will try to update more regularly. Hope this is providing a nice glimpse into life at Freedom High School!
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