Hat journal 2

Summary:

Chapter 5 of Teaching for strings included a lot of precious information. This chapter
focused on the importance of orchestra in a school curriculum and how to create a
support system that also believes that music is a necessity for all students. At the
beginning of the chapter, there is a brief overview of the history of orchestra programs in
school and how much they have grown over time. The interest of orchestras began to
appear in the mid-1800s in Europe and began to tour in the U.S. Of course, after many
tours, musicians began to immigrate to America. Orchestras did not start to appear in
schools until the end of the 19th century. It is rather interesting that many of the places in
which an orchestra was first introduced in school were in Indiana. This chapter
consisted of the importance of an orchestra program in a school curriculum. A study
titled “The perceived impact of string programs on k-12 music programs” was
conducted, and 98% of educators believed that there are many benefits to a music
program. These benefits can range from all types, such as raising the value of a school
district to more personal connections. An example of an emotional connection is a
student discovering a hidden talent while simultaneously developing other aural or
physical skills. Stepping aside from the importance of orchestra, the chapter also talks
about different tools and ways in which you can practice to keep the integrity and
significance for your orchestra program. Some of these are as simple as providing your
administrators with a well-developed curriculum. This is very important simply because
it gives your administration a physical object that lets them know that you have a road
map and are not just running a program blindly. Ending the chapter, there is an in-depth
talk about different types of music that one can include in their repertoire, such as
mariachi band or using popular music, which is another name for vernacular music.

H:

*Something that I am unsure of is what to do when one is not meeting their own
curriculum or is meeting a goal too soon. I know the best thing for this might be adapting
but just knowing what to add or what is something that one could add to your curriculum
to challenge your students.

*Something that I am unsure of is how often do you encounter an ‘attack’ for the
program that you are running. Whether it’s from a parent protesting that orchestra is a
waste of time or does it normally come from your administration. I have never heard of a
direct attack on a director but I know that times are changing and we are constantly
fighting to keep music in a school curriculum.
*Something that I thought about while reading and also am unsure of is how to give your
students a wide variety of music while still maintaining the progression. In the chapter, it
mentioned that you can include mariachi or chamber groups and for chamber music, I
know for a fact that there are many resources but what if students either do not have
time for a group or if it is hard to find a good repertoire that will still be educational. My
question is how can I include this in my curriculum

*Prior to this reading there were many things that I never really thought of that one could
include into their curriculum or program. Some of the things that I learned about was
having a mariachi band or even something called strolling strings which involves
students performing light classical and popular music while walking among the
audience. This was something that was new to me and thinking about it now, it is so
creative just in the sense that this form of performance steps back from traditional
concerts.

*A very insightful thing when it comes to maintaining a successful program is how to

defend it and also have the support of your community. Community support is
something that is needed in all choir, band, and orchestra settings and I just never knew
of the many possibilities of how many different resources are even available to reach
out to. Such as churches, shopping malls, hospitals, nursing homes, and so many more.

*Something that I learned while reading was more of the financial aspect of having a
music program in your school. I did not know that schools’ value actually increases with
having any sort of music program. At the end of the day, of course, it is not about money
but rather the students but I just never thought with having a music program the value
would actually increase. One more positive for orchestra is that large music classes
taught by a small number of teachers will enable a school system to hire fewer
classroom teachers which increases the cost-effectiveness of the school district as well.

*One of the biggest things that I will be able to take with me into the field is how to
maintain a strong program with the support from your community but also having a
system in which you build your support system if there is none. For example, there was
a very clear bullet-point layout in which had things such as what to provide your
administration (curriculum), Perform at school board and administrator meetings (I first
hand experienced this in my band class), Dedicate concerts to the board members and
admin. These are just a few of the things that one can do to really create a solid support
system and the administration, parents, and students will be the root of it all.
*I really enjoyed how the chapter included a very basic but detailed outline for a
curriculum. This would be a great tool really for anyone that doesn’t quite know how to
structure their program but just gives a few major areas which are imperative for a
successful program such as Tone Quality, Rhythm and Bowing, and Finger Patterns and
Scales. Fortunately, we have a great foundation if we are using the standards but I just
thought it was a great resource for any setting.

*I believe that providing your students with diverse genres of music is very important not
only for the students but also for the teacher. Trying things outside of the box is really
important for all teachers. Things that we can do in an orchestra is provided other types
of music such as mariachi, or chamber music. There was a paragraph in which it talks
about all the benefits that come from trying things like chamber music and how it can
just expand your student’s musical literacy by quite literally exposing them to more
music. This is something that I will definitely take with me in the future.