My essential question:
How does learning to play a musical instrument facilitate other aspects of learning?
I chose this as my essential question because most kids wouldn't think that learning an instrument has a real impact outside the band room. I knew I had to look further into that idea when I realized how much more interest kids have in a subject when they are told they can apply it in their everyday life. This question does reflect my interest in the topic because its something that neither I, nor most people (as far as I know), have ever thought about. And who doesn't like to learn weird things like that?
Monday, November 24, 2014
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Background Experience
Over the past month, I have been working as almost a second Mr. Dugan with the bands at North Hall Middle School. I have worked on building the students as individual players by working with them one-on-one, as well as working with them as entire bands. During our off time, me and Mr. Dugan talk about what he does when he's not working with a band (i.e.. choosing music, lesson plans, grades, etc.). We have discussed giving me opportunities to work on conducting with the older bands.
I have applied what I have learned in my Symphonic Band class to my work at the middle school. Watching Mr. Carwile (director of bands at NHHS) work has showed me how a rehearsal should be run. I have been in Symphonic Band, which is the advanced band class, for all 4 years of high school and I have seen the growth my friends and I have made and I hope I can make that growth happen in one year at the middle school.
I have applied what I have learned in my Symphonic Band class to my work at the middle school. Watching Mr. Carwile (director of bands at NHHS) work has showed me how a rehearsal should be run. I have been in Symphonic Band, which is the advanced band class, for all 4 years of high school and I have seen the growth my friends and I have made and I hope I can make that growth happen in one year at the middle school.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Profile
About me: My name is Gage, and music isn't just what I do, its who I am. I take pride in my abilities as a performer and as a private instructor. I have played in many bands, but right now I am pursuing jazz as a drummer. Jazz is a very big deal to me because it is the most diverse kind of music and is filled with the most talented musicians on Earth.
I wasn't always terribly interested in teaching music until I was the low brass section leader this year. I got to see incredible growth in the rookies of the low brass and it made me realize that I could see that kind of inspiring improvement all the time if I was a band director, so thats what I decided to strive for.
My Mentorship: I found my mentorship later in the year than I should've. I started at a law office but quickly realized that wasn't my gig. If I'm not working with music, I'm not working at all. So I got transferred to North Hall Middle School to work with director of bands Rob Dugan and from the beginning it just felt right. I love working with the kids because I remember being their age and being excited to be learning an instrument. I get to see that same excitement on their faces every day and wouldn't trade that opportunity for the world.
My Future: I plan to go to Georgia State to get my masters in Music Education, then go to graduate school and get my doctorate in Conducting at the University of Georgia. From there I'll be directing either middle school or, preferably, high school band.
I wasn't always terribly interested in teaching music until I was the low brass section leader this year. I got to see incredible growth in the rookies of the low brass and it made me realize that I could see that kind of inspiring improvement all the time if I was a band director, so thats what I decided to strive for.
My Mentorship: I found my mentorship later in the year than I should've. I started at a law office but quickly realized that wasn't my gig. If I'm not working with music, I'm not working at all. So I got transferred to North Hall Middle School to work with director of bands Rob Dugan and from the beginning it just felt right. I love working with the kids because I remember being their age and being excited to be learning an instrument. I get to see that same excitement on their faces every day and wouldn't trade that opportunity for the world.
My Future: I plan to go to Georgia State to get my masters in Music Education, then go to graduate school and get my doctorate in Conducting at the University of Georgia. From there I'll be directing either middle school or, preferably, high school band.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Social Intelligence and the Modern Youth
http://growingleaders.com/blog/first-soft-skill-develop-students/
After reading this article, I felt a little disappointed in my generation. While the article may have exaggerated a bit, I do see definite decline in etiquette between this generation and the last. The newest generation appears over-entitled and very self-absorbed, as the article says, and this is very true (coming from someone who is a part of it). There is a pretty drastic lack of formality in the way young people act in the workplace. I believe this comes from the media's push to destroy the sense of self worth in young people in recent years. Every commercial is aimed at making youth feel like if they have this one thing or are a part of this group, you will be thought highly of in society. Therefore, people believe that if they follow these trends, they can put themselves on the same level as their boss because they are "popular" in their group of friends or school or whatever they are a part of.
This doesn't have to be a problem. I believe that all we have to do is just be our own people and make a stand against being slave to social media if we want to be looked at as professional. I see all too often on social networking parents or other adults ranting about how youth have no respect. One little fact they seem to have forgotten is that THEY raised this generation. Just a thought…
After reading this article, I felt a little disappointed in my generation. While the article may have exaggerated a bit, I do see definite decline in etiquette between this generation and the last. The newest generation appears over-entitled and very self-absorbed, as the article says, and this is very true (coming from someone who is a part of it). There is a pretty drastic lack of formality in the way young people act in the workplace. I believe this comes from the media's push to destroy the sense of self worth in young people in recent years. Every commercial is aimed at making youth feel like if they have this one thing or are a part of this group, you will be thought highly of in society. Therefore, people believe that if they follow these trends, they can put themselves on the same level as their boss because they are "popular" in their group of friends or school or whatever they are a part of.
This doesn't have to be a problem. I believe that all we have to do is just be our own people and make a stand against being slave to social media if we want to be looked at as professional. I see all too often on social networking parents or other adults ranting about how youth have no respect. One little fact they seem to have forgotten is that THEY raised this generation. Just a thought…
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
A Fresh Start
Ok guys, I've made a change in my mentorship as well as my life. I realized over these past couple months that I can't put all I've got into my mentorship or my career if I can't follow my real passion: music. I have changed my profession as well as my place of work. I am now working with director Rob Dugan at North Hall Middle School to pursue a career in music education. All of my following posts will come from my experiences in my new position. Wish me luck!
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