Posted by Doug Butchy on January 17, 2009
This year, I finally decided to have my senior high concert band attend it’s first adjudication. Here in PA, this is simply a process where the group performs 2 prepared pieces and some sight-reading. The ensemble is evaluated by a small group of judges, and the band is then given a rating. I like this system, because it does not necessarily compare the group to any of the others that are performing. This process also gives the group some positive feedback for improvement and also I think lends some validity to what we do as music teachers. This is kind of like our “standarized test” for band.
Anyway, we have just begun our preparations for the adjudication in March. I have noticed that preparing for this event has already made me a better teacher. Let me explain why. First of all, this has forced me to be much for focused and goal-oriented in our rehearsals. I know that we will have to sight-read, so we are working on that every day during our warm-ups. After listening to our winter concert, I knew that we had to work more on intonation, so this is something that we are also addressing on a daily basis. Focusing on these two prepared pieces has also helped me to be better in my rehearsal planning process. What I have found myself doing is just selecting certain concepts that I want to work on that day, or selecting a small section of the music to perfect. In just two weeks, I have found the group’s progress to be very exciting, and I think we are now getting more done in a shorter period of time. I should also mention that I am careful to make sure that the adjudication is not all-encompassing. I think that this may be part of the reason that I shied away from doing it initially. I worried that I would focus too much on the adjudication, and not about teaching music. But, I have been pleasantly surprised to find out that with the right mindset, this is actually helping me to be a better, more prepared, more focused teacher! Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to prepare!
Posted in Adjudication, Concert Band, Senior High, teaching techniques | Tagged: teaching music adjudication band | 4 Comments »
Posted by Doug Butchy on January 5, 2009
I was happy to discover that this piece arrived at school today, upon my return to school! You may or may not have heard of the composer, but I am proud to say that I was one of his first students back in 1995. Travis J. Weller’s composition American Visions is available from The FJH Music Company, and I encourage you to check it out…it is a wonderful piece! Travis is a great teacher, mentor, colleague and friend, and I would like to publicly offer him my congratulations on this publication. I look forward to many more! Congratulations, Travis! I have tremendous respect for anyone that can compose music, and to have it published is a fantastic accomplishment.
Posted in Concert Band, Repertoire | Tagged: travis weller composition concert band | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Doug Butchy on January 2, 2009
Okay, this isn’t music related, but I have decided to take up the 365 Days of Photos Challenge. If you’re interested, you can follow my progress via flickr. I enjoy photography, so it should be fun! I hope you enoy it as well. I don’t know that I’ll upload every day, but I’m going to at least make an effort to take a photo every day this year! Wish me luck!
Posted in Technology, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Posted by Doug Butchy on January 2, 2009
Dr. Joe Pisano over at MusTech.net has officially posted the 100 ME Blogger list. I have reprinted it below, but be sure to visit MusTech.net for further explanation and info. Congratulations to all of the bloggers on the list! Check them out today!
THE OFFICIAL LIST OF THE 100 MUSIC EDUCATION BLOGGER CAMPAIGN 2008-2009:
- http://www.mustech.net
Dr. Joseph M. Pisano- MusTech.net
- http://digitalmusiceducator.wordpress.com
Owen Bradley -The Digital Music Educator
- http://etobiasblog.musiced.net
Evan Tobias- Catalysts & Connections
- http://musiced.about.com/
Espie Estrella -About Music Education
- http://jamesfrankel.musiced.net/
Dr. James Frankel- Music Technology in Education
- http://weblog.siba.fi/msalavuo
Dr. Miikka Salavuo- Music Education, Technology & Social Media
- http://pwhitfield.edublogs.org
Pete Whitfield- e-Learning for Music
- http://www.musicedmagic.com
Chad Criswell- Music Ed. Magic
- http://jsavage.org.uk/
Dr. Jonathan Savage- Jonathan Savage
- http://musictechforme.com/
V. Keith Mason- Music Tech. for Me.
- http://tjweller.wordpress.com
Travis J. Weller- Composing Like Mad
- http://mystro2b.edublogs.org/
Ken Pendergrass- Music is Not for Insects
- http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/
Joel- So You Want to Teach
- http://stengel99.wordpress.com/
Steve Engel- Music Ed. Lounge
- http://fsharpbflat.wordpress.com/
Linda Granite- Bb, F#
- http://doublebassblog.org
Jason Heath- Double Bass Blog
- http://musicisfree.ning.com/
Robert Brannan- The Music is Free
- http://dvzmix.wordpress.com/
Deborah Valdivia-Zwolinski- DVZ’s Mix
- http://choirteachers.blogspot.com/
Kyle Gardner- Choir Teachers
- http://www.pauldraper.org
Paul Draper- Draper’s Blogspot
- http://johnwilborn.wordpress.com
John Wilborn- John Wilborn’s Weblog
- http://iknowithink.blogspot.com
Leo Park- I Know…I Think
- http://gluedtothestring.blogspot.com
Stan Haskins- Glued to the String
- http://musicedtech.wordpress.com
Barbara Freedman- Music Ed. Tech.
- http://tomrudolph.berkleemusicblogs.com
Dr. Tom Rudolph- Make the Most of Notation Software
- http://teachingthewirechoir.com/
Dale Lewis- Teaching the “Wire Choir”
- http://docandry.edublogs.org
Dr. Kevin Andry-Dr. Andry’s Band Blog
- http://sperham.wordpress.com
Steffany Perham- Perham’s Prattlings
- http://alexruthmann.com
Alex Ruthmann- Alex Ruthmann’s Blog
- http://www.beatechie.com/
Carol Broos- Be A Techie:)
- http://musicanthology.org
Geejay Arrioloa and Jeffrey Langlois -Music Anthology
- http://southiowamusiced.blogspot.com/
Michael Compton -Southern Iowa Music Education Network
- http://qachsband.edublogs.org/
Eric Wright- QACHS’s Band Blog
- http://alleyjazz13.wordpress.com/
Alison Hulihan- Marching Music
- http://rogerwhaley.blogspot.com
Roger Whaley -The BandEd ToolShed
- http://mgrondin.edublogs.org
Martha Grondin-Artful, Tuneful, Beatful
- http://percussioneducationonline.com
Kevin Tuck -Percussion Education Online
- http://www.musicteachersblog.com
Janice Tuck -The Music Teacher’s Blog
- http://bnceducation.blogspot.com
Steve Raybould, Kriston Feldpausch -Band and Chorus PMS/PJHS
- http://musicedshare.wordpress.com
Kyle Krstolic -Music Education Share
- http://musicedforall.blogspot.com
Dan Leeman -Music Education for All
- http://amymburns.musiced.net
Amy Burns -Elementary Music/Music Technology
- http://www.music.erinnwrobel.com
Erinn Wrobel – Notes From The Mitten
- http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com
Doug Butchy – Confessions of a Band Director
- http://studiobeemusic.com/mutech
Rich Blenkinsopp – Studiobee Music
- http://musicmiddleschoolandweb20.blogspot.com/
Susan Hurst – Music, Middle School and Web 2.0
- http://www.kirki.co.uk
Dr. Phil Kirkman -Music Education and Technology Blog
- http://tufsdblogs.org/winze
Ann Winze- WI Orchestra
- http://thirddivision.org
David DeVoto – Third Division
- http://collaborativepiano.blogspot.com
Dr. Chris Foley – The Collaborative Piano Blog
- http://bandguys.wordpress.com
Matthew Pelandina and Mike Lewis – The BandGuys’ blog
- http://tanbur.wordpress.com
David French -The Music Education Blogspot
- http://musicteachers911.blogspot.com
Larry Marra -Music Teachers 911
- http://www.pianoteacherblog.com
Rebecca Brown -Piano Teacher’s Retreat
- http://wordtogo.wordpress.com
Steve Mugglin -Creativity and Songwriting in Music Education
- http://totalmusiceducation.blogspot.com
Greg Albing -Total Music Education
- http://teachingmusicbs.com
Ben Baker -Teaching Music
- http://susanadavis.blogspot.com/
Susan Davis -Music Technology Musings
- http://www.howtopractise.com (yes it’s a “s”, it’s an English spelling)
Mike Saville – How To Practise
- http://www.free2create.com/blog
Valerie Kampmeier – Free 2 Create
- http://musicmattersblog.com
Natalie Wickham – Music Matters Blog
- http://theresawhite.edublogs.org
Theresa White – Education In Music
- http://africlassical.blogspot.com
William Zick – Africlassical
- http://discoverlearnplay.blogspot.com
Eugene Cantera – Discover, Learn, Play (MusickED.com’s Blog)
- http://mstrismusic.com
Ms. Tris – MsTrisMusic.com
- http://www.learn-theory-music.com/learn-theory-music-blog.html
Julian Partridge – Learn Theory Music Blog
- http://www.guitarticles.net
Tennyson Williams – Guitar Articles.Net
- http://creativekidmusic.wordpress.com
Dan Thompson -Creative Kid Music
- http://educacionmusical.blogspot.com
Oscar – Educacion Musical – Music Education (Our first, in Spanish, ME Blog!)
- http://rizzrazz.vox.com/
Dr. Eric Rasmussen – Rizz’s Blog
- http://reband.wordpress.com
Mr. ReBand
- http://www.techtempo.com
Brenda Muench – Tech. Tempo
- http://www.thomasjwestmusic.com/blog.htm
Thomas J. West
- http://musictech4ed.edublogs.org
Andrew Spang -MusicTech4Ed
- Click this link. (A very log blog URL…)
Jon Ensminger -Pedaplus
- http://techtoysandtunes.blogspot.com
Richard McCready – Tech Toys and Tunes
- http://downpressup.wordpress.com
Derek -Downpressup
- http://listenlearnmusic.com
Rachel Rambach – Listen and Learn
- http://jazzworks.wordpress.com
Allan Perkins – Jazz Works
- http://msgallant.edublogs.org
Alexandra Gallant – The Misadventures of a First Year Music Teacher
- http://www.acousticpath.com/blog
Cameron Grant – Acoustic Path
- http://musicteachercafe.viviti.com/
Scott Ashby – Music Teacher’s Cafe
- http://www.frogstoryrecords.com/player_journal.html
Stever Carter – Frog Story Records/Player’s Journal
- http://thirdstream.musiced.net
Cary Stewart – Third-Stream Music Education
- http://michiganstatepianopedagogy.blogspot.com
Derek Polischuk – Michigan State Piano Pedagogy
- http://fromthevoiceof.blogspot.com
Elizabeth McDonald -From the Voice of…
- http://urbanmusiceducation.org
Sarah Johnston -Urban Music Education
- http://musiced.jasoncrews.net/
Jason Crews – Music Education Resource Blog
- http://www.classicalguitarblog.net
Christopher – Classical Guitar Blog
- http://willie42.globalteacher.org.au/
Andrew- Split Three Ways
- http://mjsheetmusictips.blogspot.com/
Marilyn Johnson – MJ’s Music Teaching Tips
- http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/
Brandon Pearce – Music Teacher’s Helper Blog
- http://jeane-metroyo.blogspot.com
Jeane Goforth – Scrollworks and Metropolitian Youth Orchestras
- http://www.oparp.blogspot.com
Dr. Robert Phillips – The Opinionated Arpgeggist
- http://www.wikyblog.com/CynthiaWunsch
Cynthia Wunsch – The Unlikely Entrepreneur (Click the Blog Tab)
- http://mineoladrama.blogspot.com
Joe Owens – MHS Theater
- http://andyzweibel.com
Andy Zweibel – Music Musings and Other Randoms…
- http://musicschoolsbc.blogspot.com/
Stephen Robb – Music Schools BC
- http://paulbailey.us
Paul Bailey – Paul Bailey’s Blog
- http://edubuzz.org/blogs/alancoady/
Alan Coady – Alan Coady’s Musical Blog
Posted in Blogging, Social Networking | Tagged: Joe Pisano Music Ed Blogging | 2 Comments »
I was happy to discover that this piece arrived at school today, upon my return to school! You may or may not have heard of the composer, but I am proud to say that I was one of his first students back in 1995. 