Bandmasters Review - September 2019

Texas Bandmasters Association Bandmasters Review • September 2019 13 gain respect you must give respect. By showing respect to others we create a professional atmosphere. 9. LET YOUR STUDENTS KNOW HOW THEY SHOULD ADDRESS YOU Even though there may only be a few years difference in your age and the age of your students, let your students know on day one how they should address you. All students should call you Mr. or Mrs. or Ms.—never by your first name. If you have a difficult name to pronounce, it is permissible to have them call you by an abbreviation. In my case, Menghini was hard to pronounce so it was permissible for my students to call me “Mr. M.” 10. TAKE NOTES Throughout the day you will have a myriad of thoughts and ideas. Have a pencil and paper ready and write things down. Develop a system to use to assist you in the process. Use a “+” for things you liked or things you want to remember. Use a “?” when you need more information, are uncertain or need to ask or research. We simply do not have enough brain space to remember everything. Writing things down helps you to remember and allows you to get more done. At the end of the day, you will add these notes to your running list (see #2). 11. GREET PEOPLE Say “Hello” or “Good Morning” to your colleagues, secretaries, administrators, and students. When beginning a class, welcome your students as people first. Let them know you are happy to see them. While teaching a graduate class at VanderCook College of Music, I began each class session with, “Good Morning! How is my favorite class?” It was amazing to see the smiles on their faces. Letting people know you are happy to see or be with them sets a positive tone and gives everyone, including you, energy. 12. PROVIDE APPROPRIATE FEEDBACK If you ask the group or a student to play, never say “OK” and move on. This sends them the message that they have reached an acceptable level even though you intended to say that they are showing improvement. Instead, use the word “better” and provide guidance on how they can continue to improve. Example: “That was better. As you keep working on this, continue to make bigger differences in dynamics. Continue to exaggerate the dynamic contrast.” Letting students know there is another level encourages them to strive for a higher level of performance. 13. SAY THE SECOND THING THAT COMES TO MIND IN A REHEARSAL The first one will almost always get you in trouble. If you can wait three seconds before responding, you can choose your response. Saying the first thing that comes to mind is a reflex response and is often negative or critical. 14. KNOW YOUR MUSIC • Get a copy of each part. • Know every rhythm – be able to count it. • Note how everyone’s part goes – be able to play it on your primary instrument, a keyboard, or sing it correctly. • Internalize the style of the work. • Think of the music in context. • Practice your conducting stance. • Do not hold your arms up in the ready position and give instructions or talk. • Practice your prep beat and downbeat. Make sure you are looking at the ensemble. • Practice your releases and cut-offs. • Map out your conducting. • Keep your head out of the score. When you hear a mistake, stop and fix it. • Video yourself and be honest when you look at the video. 15. SPEND 15 MINUTES EVERYDAY PLANNING Manage time and prioritize things. Even though we all have electronic devices that store our calendars, they do not allow us to see the big picture. Having a calendar with all of your professional and personal dates recorded helps to keep you organized. It will also help identify potential conflicts. Plan out the week. Then plan out each day. We have already mentioned the importance of having a running “to do list” of things you need to get done, ideas or thoughts you have had, or people you need to contact. Move the items you want to get done from your “to do list” to your calendar. Next, assign them a priority rating or number to ensure you get the most important things completed first. Make keeping a list a high priority and realize you will never be able to get to everything on your list, but you will accomplish all of the important and Strategies for Success: Thoughts for New ( and Veteran ) Teachers