Why Concert Band clinics by instrument specialists are helpful

How hard is the life of a school band teacher? I think it is fair to say that starting up a band of absolute beginners is one of the hardest things to do. A compounding factor is the make-up of concert bands, which includes the various woodwinds (flutes, clarinets, saxophones, oboes, bassoons), brass (trumpets, trombones, horns, euphoniums, tubas) and percussion instruments (timpani, drums, etc. including melodic percussion). Since a flautist needs almost a completely different set of instructions (posture, embouchure, etc.) than a trumpet player or percussionist, the first few weeks can make for a very trying time.

Teaching Central Middle School saxophone students, September 2013

That's where instrument specialists come in. More often than not, band teachers will hire professional musicians to come out to their school and teach clinics. The big advantage of hiring these pros is that the pro-clarinettist can convene and rehearse with all the new clarinet students, the saxophonist with the new sax students, and so on. During the clinic, the pro teacher will address instrument specific issues, and will be able to help individual students more effectively. This will save the band teacher a lot of time and effort.

A brand new year of music lesson

Fall is upon is, but for teaching it feels more like spring; a sense of a new beginning. A fresh 'batch' of new students are awaiting teachers, and a refreshed outlook on teaching is helping us to get the best out of our students.

Getting organized
Over the summer Jackie (partner in life and music, pianist) and I have developed a completely new record keeping and tracking system, which will help us to be more effective teachers. 

An essential part of the record keeping is the Goals and Accomplishments sheets. Each student will have their goals defined during the first lesson, and a comprehensive strategy is developed for the full year.

Goals can be straightforward, such as "improving my tone" or "doing more jazz improvisation this year". But there's more to it than just that. Together with the student we will design an effective, goal oriented strategy.

New duo-tangs!
Helping students setting goals and planning for the year.  

For example, somebody who is planning to do an RCM Grade 8 exam would want to take advantage of more performing and mock-testing opportunities, and would want to know where and when theory lessons are available. With the help of our Goals and Accomplishments sheet in combination with our Theory, Concerts & Exams sheet we are now able to plan this.

All of these documents have been put in bright coloured duo-tangs (easy to find in your music bag), together with newly designed weekly Practice Charts, which will help the students realizing their goals step-by-step. 

New performance opportunities
Both Jackie and I are members of the BCRMTA, the British Columbia Registered Music Teachers Association. THE BCRMTA organizes five student concerts a year, which gives our students more opportunities to perform.

And we have not forgotten about taking care of our adult students. An "adults only" concert is scheduled for the end of the season.

We are looking forward to a GREAT year of music making with you!