2/19

At the beginning of the period, I was offered some trail mix from Mr. Finnegan and accepted.
That was nice of him. He had his lesson plan up on the board when students were walking in,
very good. When the bell rang he clapped his hands twice to get the attention of the class. Severe
under normal stances but, this is normal in a music class when students are warming up by
themselves. While he was conducting a jazz piece, I noticed that he wasn’t just conducting. He
was bouncing, moving; he was having fun doing it. That is important I suppose, oughta like
teaching if you’re a teacher. However, while he was explaining something to a section, two
students were not paying attention. Finnegan turned to them and said “strike one”. I didn’t think
he implemented a three strike system, but I guess incidents like this happen rarely. Anyways, he
went on and had a short lecture about the students listening to some jazz musicians on their
instruments to find things they do and implement them. Other than those, he helped out some
students who were having trouble by clapping out the rhythm and working one on one with
them.

2/26
Much like before, he had his lesson plan up before any students entered the classroom. During
the passing period, he conversed with students about topical topics, i.e. the weather. When the
bell rang he clapped his hands twice to get the attention of the class. He started the warm up,
then let them continue on their own for a bit, so he could grab his trumpet from his office. After
the warm up, he continued on with the lesson. During this lesson though, Mr. Finnegan
introduced a new piece for the class to listen to. They listened to the recording and fingered
along on their instruments, whilst also noting any dynamics or key changes with their writing
utensils. But otherwise, he again helped out students who were having trouble with rhythm the
rhythm, ether by clapping out the and working one on one with them.

3/1
Again, like before, he had his lesson plan up before any students entered the classroom. During
the passing period, he conversed with students about various topics. When the bell rang he
clapped his hands twice to get the attention of the class. He started the warm up and didn’t grab
his trumpet this time. After the warm up, he continued on with the lesson. He had them noting
any dynamics or key changes with their writing utensils if they didn’t before, which many of
them did. But otherwise, he again helped out students who were having trouble with rhythm the
rhythm, ether by clapping out the and working one on one with them.
3/5
Again, like before, he had his lesson plan up before any students entered the classroom. During
the passing period, he conversed with students about various topics. When the bell rang he
clapped his hands twice to get the attention of the class. He started the warm up and didn’t grab
his trumpet this time. After the warm up, he continued on with the lesson. He had them noting
any dynamics or key changes with their writing utensils if they didn’t before, which many of
them did. But otherwise, he again helped out students who were having trouble with rhythm the
rhythm, ether by clapping out the and working one on one with them. In particular today, a
bassist was having trouble with the fingerings, so Finnegan helped him by playing the part on
bass to show the fingerings.

3/9
Today during Practicum, Mr. Finnegan didn’t have the lesson plan up right away, possibly due to
his lateness from a faculty meeting. During the warm-up, he had decided to play and freestyle on
the bongos on the song “Watermelon Man”. Other than that, I observed him helping out students
who were having trouble in particular spots in songs, ether by working one on one with them or
clapping out the rhythm.

3/12
During this practicum, the students filled out a self-reflection form from the band concert many.
This self-reflection form has the students grade themselves in areas of tone, rhythmic accuracy,
and dynamics. Afterwards, Mr. Finnegan scolded the band for not helping to clean up afterwards.
After that, I helped Finnegan sort out the concert music that was turned in by the students. But
then after all that, I observed them playing and practicing a song called “The Coffee Queen.”

3/13
Today was an exciting day, I conducted my piece today. The piece is called “A String of Pearls.”
I did have trouble starting, as the trumpets come in on beat three of the pickup measure. But
nonetheless, progress was made and I will come up with ways to improve. After that, I observed
Finnegan conducting more pieces.

3/19
Today, Finnegan had the warm up plan on the board and he led the warm up. On this day,
finnegan had the students go off and work on their solos for the upcoming Solo and Ensemble. I
went around and ensured that students were working on their solos.

3/22
Like before, Mr. Finnegan had the warm up plan on the board as well as leading the warm up.
The students went off and worked on their solos for Solo and Ensemble for the entire period. I
went around and ensured that students were working on their solos and not goofing around.

4/2
I got to conduct String of Pearls again. When I walked up on the podium, I greeted the students
and started conducting. I had previously practiced my conducting before hand so starting was
much easier. Because of that, playing went by much better. After I got to conduct, i went back
and observed the band play “Bugle and Boogie”

4/5
Today, When I walked in, the board didn’t even have the lesson plan. Some students were
watching Netflix on the smart board while Finnegan was in his office working. He did assume
control over it two minutes before the bell and put up the lesson plan. When the bell rang, he led
them through the warm up song “Watermelon Man” and had a a long solo section for all students
to solo. All of them soloed, except for one, who did nothing. He had a talking to in Finnegan’s
office, while everyone else went off to work on solos for the songs that will be played during the
Jazz Blowout concert.

4/9
The same thing happened when I walked in today. Kids were still watching Netflix on the
Smartboard in the band room. Finnegan, again, presumed control and put up the lesson plans.
The class played through the warm up, and then Finnegan told the trumpet players to go work on
their parts for “A String of Pearls”. He then helped me co-teach everyone else for String of
Pearls, as I don’t know notes for saxophones, altos through baritones.

4/12
Things were different today, as the kids were not watching Netflix on the Smartboard in the band
Finnegan had preemptively put up the lesson plans. The class played through the warm up, and
then Finnegan told the trumpet players to go work on their parts for “A String of Pearls” again.
He continued to help co teach through String of Pearls until the end of the period.

4/16
Kids were watching Netflix on the Smartboard again when I walked in today. Finnegan shooed
them away and took control of the Smartboard and put up the lesson plans. The class played
through the warm up and we then worked on “String of Pearls” with the trumpets this time. We
finished practicing String of Pearls and I went back to observing for the rest of the period.

4/19
The same thing happened when I walked in today. Kids were still watching Netflix on the
Smartboard in the band room. You know what happens next, Finnegan takes control and puts up
his lesson plan. Today is an observation day, and as such I watched the band play “The Coffee
Queen” and “Jiver’s License”

4/23
Guess what happened again, yup, kids were watching Netflix in the band room, again, and
Finnegan took control, again. After playing through the warm up, I conducted String of Pearls
again, while I stopped once in a while so Finnegan can help the students out with problematic
parts.

4/26
The kids weren’t watching Netfilx on the Smartboard when I walked in today, which hasn’t
happened in a while and Finnegan had his lesson plan up on the board. The band played a warm
up song “Watermelon Man” I observed from the back again. The songs played were “Jiver’s
License and “Bugle and Boogie”

4/29
Today at practicum was another observation day. The band played their warm up, and then
played “Hayburner” and “Don’t Shoot the Trombone Players”. Tonight was also a district event
at the patriot center that the band had to pack up the trailer for. I held open the door for the
students loading the trailer and going back inside.
4/30
Practicum today was yet another observation day. Though, this time none of the kids were
watching netflix. I saw the band warm up again and practice a selection known as “Minnesota,
WI.”
5/1
Guess what I did today, guess. Yup, observation day. The band warmed up as usual and played
two selections, those being “Portrait of Louis Armstrong” and “Bugle ‘n Boogie”. I have to
wonder when I’ll get to conduct again.

5/2
When I walked into the band room, I smelt the oh so very distcent smell of pizza. It turns out Mr.
Finnegan had brought a pizza oven and had made pizza the period before praticum. He didn’t
invite me though, probably forgot. In any case, it was an observation day, again. Same thing as
before“Rio After Dark” “The Coffee Queen” and “Jivers License”. But then, at the tail end of the
period, there was enough time for at least half a song. So finally, I got to conduct my piece,
“String of Pearls”. Or, at least, just half of it.

5/3
This is it, the final day of practicum. We warmed up with “Watermelon Man” and then
played/finished “String of Pearls” for the last time. Everyone was glad they wouldn’t have to
play the song anymore. I actually agree with them. The song was an old, but recognizable song.
However, it lacked any interest whatsoever, and I could feel that from the students when we
played it, except for this time. This time they were glad, though I think that might have been
from the fact this would be the last time they would have to do it.