Tips That Click Phi Beta Mu
Welcome to a column that is designed to share information gleaned from some of the most distinguished and experienced instrumental music teachers in the state. It is the hope of Phi Beta Mu that all of us can learn (and relearn) from this knowledge.The focus of this issue’s article is motivation and preparation of students for All-State Band auditions. I interviewed several accomplished band directors and compiled their thoughts on this matter.
Mike Holmes has been a band director for over 20 years, teaching at Bottenfield, Clay-Chalkville, and Trussville Middle Schools, and is currently teaching the elementary band program in the Mountain Brook Schools. Mike suggests using the scale requirement to help sort out the best candidates. He says: “The scales tend to show you pretty quickly who is serious about auditioning for all-state”. He also recommends having sectional type rehearsals on the material with like instruments and encouraging the students to learn the material in pairs or small groups. He concludes: “By getting the notes and rhythms out of the way, you can really help the students put on the finishing touches by bringing in college instructors or professional level players to polish things in the final stages”.
William T. Robinson served as a band director at the middle school and high school level for over 35 years and currently teaches a full roster of private students in his studio in Huntsville. “Make the all- state requirements a part of your band standards as much as is feasible” is his advice. “Teach the scales as soon as possible and make sure the skills necessary to perform the exercises are covered in a logical
ala breve
fashion”. Mr. Robinson further suggests that the etudes (or portions of them) can become audition or assessment material for your band. “Doing this insures that a large number of students will feel comfortable with the material and will become likely candidates to actually audition”, he concludes.
Tony Pike is the Band Director at Davidson High School in Mobile and has been a teacher for over 30 years. He has served in many leadership posts in ABA, AMEA, and Phi Beta Mu. Tony uses the all-state requirements as a means to “stretch” students out of their comfort zones. “I require students to audition for all-state as a prerequisite for membership in the Symphonic Band at Davidson. Many students realize after they begin preparing the scales and etudes that it is not as impossible as they once thought it was”! He also uses students that have made all-state to encourage others and to provide motivation. “Having this positive reinforcement from their peers makes trying out for all-state a “cool” thing to do”, he comments. Our final contributor, for this article is Dr. Russell Logan, long-time Band Director at Auburn High School. He suggests having students sign a list requesting a packet of all-state material. “By seeing
who has signed the list, I can easily track who is preparing for the audition”, he states. “I can also see who has NOT signed up and investigate why they are not planning to prepare for the auditions!” Dr. Logan also uses the analogy of sports to help motivate students. “At Auburn, a big deal is made of having all-state players in every sport. I tell them that I expect us to have many all-state players in BAND as well. They have not disappointed me yet!”
I hope these insights from a few of our state’s best directors might assist those who are using the all-state audition process as a means to help develop strong individual musicians and build solid band programs. Having a lot of students tackling the all-state band requirements seems to insure that there is improvement happening on a daily basis among most of the band.
Rho Chapter of Phi Beta Mu is committed to providing assistance to all band directors and programs in this state, and this column is one way of fulfilling this charge. Comments and suggestions for future articles are always welcome. Contact me at:
pemin@mac.com.
CALL FOR RESEARCH ABSTRACTS Alabama Music Educators Association
2011 Research Poster Session Friday, January 21, 2011 at 10:30 am AMEA In-service Conference Renaissance Montgomery Hotel
The Association invites submissions from university faculty, music teachers, graduate students, and undergraduate scholars. Abstracts of completed and in-progress studies involving any aspect of music education, therapy, history, psychology, and performance are welcome. Interested researchers should submit a 650-750 word abstract online
www.musiceducation.ua.edu/posters/ by November 19, 2010 for full consideration. Authors will be notified of acceptance by December 3, 2010.
Submissions must be received by 11:59 pm CST on Friday, November 19, 2010. 27
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