As an Educator
Lesson with 1st Graders at Agnes Little Elementary School, Pawtucket RI.
This was a fun lesson based on Plank Road Publishing's K-8 Song "Did You Hear That Sound" based on 12 different instrument sounds. First, I taught the students the refrain to sing. Then, I split the class into 4 groups, each of which had 3 instruments (12 total). During the verses, each group was instructed to play the correct instrument. I loved this lesson because the students were so engaged, it incorporated singing and instrument playing, and it was a great challenge to manage so many instruments at the same time. Since teaching it, I have refined the lesson some to incorporate more musical elements and better transitions.
Before
Rehearsing Gene Milford's "Christmas Rondo" with the Exeter-West Greenwich Jr. High School Concert Band of 120 students. This was the 3rd rehearsal on this piece and this clip shows me conducting and otherwise guiding the ensemble through connecting the 2 major sections we learned so far. It is not the prettiest performance or display of my conducting, but it shows a work in progress.
After
Performing Gene Milford's "Christmas Rondo" with the Exeter-West Greenwich Jr. High School Concert Band of 120 students at their 2015 Winter Concert. The group had 3 weeks to learn this and 3 other pieces.
Performing David Bobrowitz's arrangement of "Chanukah: Festival of Lights Overture" with the Exeter-West Greenwich Sr. High School Concert Band of 80 students. The group had 3 weeks to learn this and 3 other pieces.