School Site: BMS
Subject: Band
I never learned how to play an instrument, my dad had a guitar that we always took out around Xmas time, strummed an incoherent song, and then promptly put away. That was the extent of my musical exposure until I was in high school, where a friend of the family gave me all of 4 lessons on how to read music. The point I'm trying to make is, with the exception of my voice and an innate sense of rhythm I really do not have a lot of experience in band, at all so, of course I was excited to sub for this class.
I get in, grab my key, and head to the band room. I check out the lesson plan "P 1-5 make sure they play the whole time"… ok. Before school even starts there are a number of students who wanted to practice, cool! be my guest. Thus far it seems like people want to be in this class, unfortunately my experience has told me to not let my guard down until the end of the day.
In the lesson plan it mentioned that each class had a conductor, if I did not know how to. While I have no experience in conducting, I would imagine it is not hard, what I did not know, however, was the songs they were working on, so I let the student conductor take over, they were excited to do so, i mean how often do you get to take control of your peers as an adolescent?
Period 1: Advanced band
Mostly 8th grades, a talented bunch, they had the most music to work on, there were instrument I usually only see in band, I mean how often do you see a Bassoon solo? They got through their set list quickly and then it was like, "Now what do we do Mr. C….?" Umm… So, they went over some other random songs and then back over the concert set list, let me tell you I head mary had a little lamb so many times today.
Period 2: Intermediate band
This group was a little more apprehensive about playing, but they were actually really good, their conductor did great, they too sped through the set list and so she started having people do solos, and sectioned off portions of the various songs, "Now just the clarinets…Now the flutes and trumpets, etc." This was a great solution to filling in time, I'm glad she was able to keep the class on track.
Period 3: Beginning Woodwind
This, I hate to say, was probably the least experienced group of the day. I don't really have a lot of room to talk because I'm sure if I tried to play one of these instruments I would sound pretty horrible, but with nothing to really do this was probably the most painful class to sit through. I commend their effort, but this is definitely why they are in class, to practice practice practice. This period's conductor was wonderful, she had them go through the set list, and then various other songs, basically she just kept them engaged the whole time, and this is really the key with Middle school kids. This group needed practice, but they were a good group of kids.
Period 4: Beginning Brass
When I read the previous sub's assessment of this class I was worried, "Rude and disrespectful," Uh oh. So I laid down the fear of god, i.e. The AP, and they were actually really good with me. No one really knew how to conduct in this class, which I'm sure was part of the behavioral problem the day before. We made it through though, and I can't help but think, how does this band director place his students? This class was saturated with Trumpets with some trombones, tubas, and french horns, but there was also a flute and a clarinet. Their sound was completely washed out of course, but I imagine this was the only time band fit into their schedule.
The band director does his best to be very inclusive, anyone who wants to join band, can, no questions asked. So this leads to two things, 1)Some of his classes have 44 students, holy crap!. 2) He teaches in the afternoon at the elementary school… I read this in the description, after I accepted it, but I went along with it.
Elementary School:
My rule is "If I can't see them, I can't teach them" but, rules are meant to be broken so I ventured forth "Where no Gabe had gone before," well, as a teacher at least. I was greeted by a shoddy classroom, which is mostly used for storage, the door sticks and P.E. equipment, random toys and creepy dolls are everywhere… ok. My first class came in, a group of 3 boys and 3 girls, their behavior was, ok, I had to kind of lay down the stink eye on one kid, but he straightened up pretty quickly. Did I mention there was no student conductor? So, I put on my white whig, long coat tails and did my conducting debut. I figured I was just keeping things congruent, such as the start, and keeping time for the group. I think I did ok, it didn't seem like anyone was really paying attention to me.
My last period was with this really mousy girl, she was very sweet, and quiet.
"Hi there, so, you just want to practice the set list for the concert?"
"yes"
"Mary had a little lamb here we go"
"You wanna do clockwork next?"
"yes"
"Alrighty, should we start at measure 39?
"no, 44"
It was cute, and it made a great end to a fun day. I'm not sure that I want to go full force with this and do a full class day at the elementary school, this was definitely enough exposure for me, but it made me less apprehensive should I happen to have a split assignment again.
Band was great, I wish I could have followed along a little better, or have been more help, but it was ok the kids were good, and for the most part excited to be there. Band is one of those electives where the students actually want to be there, so the day is usually pretty good. Some electives, like "record keeping" the students are shoved there, but that is a story for another post.
