The fact is that a great many students, who turn out to be very productive contributors, never develop the ability to make a lot of progress on their own. They are not motivated to practice enough (they are more group oriented). They do not remember what to practice, nor do they remember how you said to practice it. You must guide their practice in class by drilling on fundamentals everyday. Then you must take a problem solving approach to performance preparation that relates to the fundamentals drilled.
Whatever it is that you feel is necessary for your students to do, see that they do it while you are with them. What they then do on their own will be icing on the cake.
4. ORGANIZE AND PSYCHOLOGIZE
A class should be organized so that you drill fundamentals, teach new material and review previously taught material, while maintaining a positive emotional and mental climate. Many directors are far better at
correcting mistakes than they are at keeping the class moving in a positive psychological flow. Here are some tips on how to do this: a. Do basic drills first. b. Secondly, move into detailed new teaching. Stay in this mode only as long as they students’ concentration and discipline are at their high level. c. Thirdly, review previously taught material with considerable emphasis on continuity. d. Toward the end of class, play through something that involves everyone and that will affect everyone positively. e. Play more and talk less. f. Work on small tasks in rapid succession. g. Utilize the “Joe Friday Method”, “Just The Facts.” Spend more time telling the students what to do and less time explaining what they did wrong. (Much of the time it is necessary only to have the solution explained. It is not always necessary to explain the mistake.) h. Devise tasks that will gradually bring execution from where it is to where you want it.
5. DON’T GIVE UP
Being a band director is harder than it ever was, but students need you more than they ever have. It is not easy to be growing up at this time. The most important good you do may never show up in your band’s performance.
Rho Chapter of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmaster Fraternity is committed to the improvement of bands and band instruction in this state. Comments on this column and ideas for future columns are welcome! Please email:
pemin@mac.com
Note to self: see
www.asfaschool.org for a well orchestrated education
Make music the soundtrack to your tuition-free, public education, grades 7-12. At the Alabama School of Fine Arts you will engage in a minimum of 3 hours a day of professional music instruction while earning your high school diploma. Whether you sing or play strings, wind, brass or percussion, play for keeps at ASFA. Boarding facilities available. Audition and admission information is available online.
ALABAMA SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS
ala breve
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