This Wednesday, I and three of my classmates went to North Smithfield Middle School for our first observation of Mr. John Knasas' band classes. We observed two sixth grade beginning band classes; the first was flutes and clarinets, and the second was brass, percussion, two more clarinets, and a saxophone. All of these students are sixth graders who are beginners. I think all of them received their instruments last week, and some students who decided late are still waiting for theirs!
The exercises come from the Essential Elements 2000 band book, and the backing tracks for each assignment are played in class along with the Smart Music program, which Mr. Knasas uses on a large smart board at the front of the room. Right now, the students have only gone through ten of the exercises, but in a week, they have already learned the first five notes!
Some classroom techniques that I observed and that I really thought were admirable were, for instance, Mr. Knasas' sense of humor with the students, and the way that he kept the pace moving throughout the lesson. He made sure that everybody in the room got some kind of individual attention at some point, and was always willing to offer advice. With this age group, especially when they have just gotten their instruments, it's important to keep them occupied the entire time. Another great technique was, when Mr. Knasas would work with one instrument group on an exercise, he would have the students that weren't playing, "finger and sizzle" (they would play the fingerings and hiss the rhythms).
Overall, I am very excited to start teaching and work my way into the classroom routine. One aspect about which I am a little nervous is to be teaching the second period, which is mostly brass and percussion. I really enjoyed playing brass last year in my methods class, but it's been a while since I have had experience with either type of instrument. I'm hoping to be able to help the students adequately on an instrument with which I am not as familiar, and refresh my own knowledge of brass and percussion technique.
The exercises come from the Essential Elements 2000 band book, and the backing tracks for each assignment are played in class along with the Smart Music program, which Mr. Knasas uses on a large smart board at the front of the room. Right now, the students have only gone through ten of the exercises, but in a week, they have already learned the first five notes!
Some classroom techniques that I observed and that I really thought were admirable were, for instance, Mr. Knasas' sense of humor with the students, and the way that he kept the pace moving throughout the lesson. He made sure that everybody in the room got some kind of individual attention at some point, and was always willing to offer advice. With this age group, especially when they have just gotten their instruments, it's important to keep them occupied the entire time. Another great technique was, when Mr. Knasas would work with one instrument group on an exercise, he would have the students that weren't playing, "finger and sizzle" (they would play the fingerings and hiss the rhythms).
Overall, I am very excited to start teaching and work my way into the classroom routine. One aspect about which I am a little nervous is to be teaching the second period, which is mostly brass and percussion. I really enjoyed playing brass last year in my methods class, but it's been a while since I have had experience with either type of instrument. I'm hoping to be able to help the students adequately on an instrument with which I am not as familiar, and refresh my own knowledge of brass and percussion technique.
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