A blog for college students of Music Education
Happy April! Hard to believe, but the year 2011 is already 25% gone! It has been a hectic first three months of the year, but 2011 has brought some great content to MusicEdMajor.net. It’s time to take a look back and explore the most popular posts on the site! Check it out:
NOTE: Popularity based on page views since January 1, 2011
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I just finished my final day of my first week teaching in the elementary setting, and I must say that it is loads different than teaching in the high school. I’ve decided to use this week’s Student Teacher’s Notebook to highlight the differences I have experienced: [Read more...]
I have written many posts here on staying organized and productive (by setting goals, using a calendar, and staying focused), but there is not one resource I have found that has helped me be organized better than Evernote. Evernote has transformed how I keep myself organized, both in my professional and personal life. This series of short posts will take an in-depth look into how I use Evernote for a more organized life.
Before you read: Check out the other posts in this series: Evernote Series: A Primer, How Evernote Changed the Way I Job Search, How Evernote Helps Me Deliver Killer Presentations, and Evernote in Daily Life
I am about halfway done with my student teaching (and I have been reflecting on it in my first three editions of the Student Teacher’s Notebook) on my way to graduation. One of the requirements that the University of Miami has of its associate teachers in Music is that we keep a binder containing observations, copies of our lesson plans, and reflections on each lesson we teach. While our supervisors ask for a hard-copy of the notebook, I choose to maintain mine in Evernote, and print when they need. Here’s how: [Read more...]
I am officially finished with my first day of elementary student teaching! I’ll save the reflections on my elementary placement for another entry, though… this entry will focus on my last few weeks at Miami Coral Park Senior HS.
As I mentioned in my last post, I had the opportunity to conduct the Wind Ensemble in their Concert Band Music Performance Assessment (MPA) at the end of my seventh week at Coral Park. I conducted Sousa’s “The Fairest of the Fair” march, and the band also played Holst’s “Second Suite in F” and Gillingham’s “Council Oak.” The ensemble played extremely well on all pieces, and earned straight “Superior” ratings – enough to qualify them for the state competition later this Spring!
I was thrilled to have had the opportunity to perform with the students; it was an incredible learning experience. Their hard work on the march was evident in their performance, and it was a thrill to see the look on their faces when they found out what ratings they had earned. Here’s a video of the march, from my perspective (any comments/suggestions regarding conducting are welcome!): [Read more...]
This past week, albeit short (teacher work day on Friday!), was stressful but productive. As hard as it is to believe, I am already more than halfway finished with my first placement at Miami Coral Park Senior HS. It has been a whirlwind month, but I am finally becoming comfortable with what I am doing and establishing a rapport with my students. I am really enjoying my time here, and will definitely miss the experiences and the students when I move to an elementary setting after spring break. Here are a few take-aways from the week: [Read more...]
The first thing I have learned in my three weeks of student teaching? Keeping up with a blog on the side is difficult when you’re teaching full-time! My apologies for taking so long to get the first true edition of the Student Teachers’ Notebook up on the site, but between a trip to Cincinnati for the TI:ME Conference, a bad head cold as my body refused to adjust to my new sleep schedule, and a LOT of observing, planning, and teaching, I am finally ready to reflect a bit! [Read more...]
I was planning on waiting until Friday for the first edition of the Student Teachers’ Notebook, but this day was so eventful, I couldn’t wait…
I tried to start my student teaching experience off on the right foot by arriving at my school – Miami Coral Park Senior HS – extra early (you’re on time, you’re late, right??). I ended up arriving even earlier than the band director (my cooperating teacher) normally does. When I called him, he said he was on his way, and I should wait in the parking lot, so I did. While I waited, I turned the engine off in my car, and listened to the radio. After fifteen minutes or so, my cooperating teacher pulled in, and I excitedly went over to introduce myself. I went back to my car to grab my bag, and the day was off! [Read more...]