Week 7: Our Value as Educators

Here is a link to an article about our value as educators.  This is link to a powerpoint presentation that discusses how valuable we are to a school corporation.  This is definetly something that we can use to help support our programs. 

Music Educators and our value

Week 7: My 7th grade band

Here is a recording of my 7th grade band at ISSMA Concert Band contest for middle school.  I was extremely proud of them.  They recieved great comments from the judges and came home with a Gold rating. 

Week 7: Jazz Trombone

This is a great article about jazz trombone and jazz trombone players.  It offers some insight to some fantastic trombone recordings in the jazz genre.  It also suggests some jazz trombone players for young musicians to listen to.  This is a great read and resource. 

Jazz Trombone

Week 6: Jazz and Gender

Considering it is jazz appreciation month, I thought that I would share a great article how a jazz group broke through the gender barrier.  This article is about the International Sweethearts of Rhythm. 

Jazz and Gender

Week 6: 1:1 School

A couple weeks ago I was able to attend some professional development with some coworkers where we were given information about making a school 1:1.  What this means is that every student and teacher has their own laptop.  It was awesome to see how engaged the students were!  I hope this is something that go through in my school corporation.  The following is a link to an article about the Lincoln Junior High School in Plymouth, IN. 

1:1 School

1:1 School

Week 5: Jazz Cello?

Here is a great article on how the cello can be a jazz instrument.  It not only discusses how the cello can be a great jazz instrument, but it offers some great CD's for listening.  I love listening to good cello playing and then combining it with my favorite genre of jazz is even better! 

Jazz Cello

Week 5: PBS for Kids Music Program

Here is a link to a PBS for Kids Music program called "Chuck Vanderchuck Something Something Explosion."  In this program, the students are taken through a musical journey about different styles of music.  In this episode the students discover jazz music.  There are listening games that the students can work with and at the end the "band" led by Chuck and his assitant will perform.  This is the first I have seen this, but it looks like it is updated every month or so with new musical style.  This would work great for elemantary school students. 

Chuck Vanderchuck