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In this episode we discuss the task that never ends: articulation. We talk about intro’ing articulation to our beginners as well as what we are doing in our full ensembles to address tongue strength, placement, and pressure.
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In this episode we intro our new “Nuts & Bolts” season with a recap of how our first week went. Starting with episode 601 you can expect very specific topic episodes as all of us start wrapping our minds around Real Band again.
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In this episode we talk about a few of the ways we are looking to reinvent our band program to preserve some of what we have learned in 2020.
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In this episode we verbal vomit about the craziness of our Texas snow storm plus brainstorm about solo contest.
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In this episode we talk anecdotally about the lack of ear training we are discovering through online band.
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In this episode we talk about some of the strategies we use to keep a healthy pace in our classes with students divided across homes and the band hall.
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In this episode (that feels a little more old school) we talk through scheduling and things that need to be on our to-do list for the next couple of weeks with our beginners.
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In this episode we revisit goals we set at the beginning of 2020 and were reality diverted our efforts.
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In this episode we cover all things from work relationships to dirty recordings of Sleigh Ride and at least 3 other topics in between.
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In this episode we talk about observations we have made during a semester virtually void of competition and the impact it has on our program, our students, and us as directors.
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In this episode we eventually talk about balancing, engaging, and creating a band culture when our kids are split over virtual and in-person settings. We also talk about a lot of other random stuff because #2020.
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Election. Covid. Online school. Block schedule. Children. 2020. We’re tired.
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In this episode we talk about where our beginners are, along with surprises and disappointments through this all. SPOILER ALERT: Some of the kids are doing really well, and some of them aren’t.
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In this episode we re-readdress the need for an off switch within not only the band profession but within education as a whole. Teaching in the COVID era has magnified the problems of public education as well a brought a new onslaught of issues to navigate.
THAT DOES NOT GIVE US PERMISSION TO BECOME MARTYRS FOR THE JOB.
Darcy, Jenna, and TJ discuss their concerns for teachers in general, not just band directors.
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No seriously… There might be some good information in this episode, but this is the last time we do a dad gum episode over Zoom. You are going to feel like you are IN Jenna’s mouth or at the very least sitting on her upper lip. TJ’s is audio okay, and Darcy’s microphone (despite being on with levels checked ahead of time) RECORDED NOTHING! Zero things. I Levelated the crud out of this episode to make it palatable (not enjoyable, just lightly tolerable), but it is comically bad. In fact, the only reason I bothered to post it is because it is SO bad it made me giggle a little after I stopped cussing, and I have cussed enough for several weeks in the span of about an hour.
Also, second forewarning of the episode: I was so ticked I didn’t even both to edit it. Seriously. Curious what a completely unedited recording sounds like? Well, you’ll only hear 72% of it, but there is way too much that should have been on the cutting room floor, TJ’s potty mouth, and Jenna’s kids drawing actual blood… for real.
Sorry folks.
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In this episode we talk about welcoming back out 7th graders and crappy internet.
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In this episode we talk about quick easy fixes, botox, and Luigi pants.
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In this episode we talk about our first week back with in-person AND virtual students.
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In this episode we talk about motivation when some of our traditional methods look different.
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In our first episode of the Covid Season, we talk about our first week back “at school.”
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In this episode we talk about all we have learned during distance learning… just in case.
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In this episode we talk about the questionnaire we are using to place our beginners.
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In this episode Chris Yee of Cedar Park HS talks about how distance learning is affecting high school band.
Darcy, Jenna, and TJ talk about what is going well this week.
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In this episode we talk about lots of thing… mostly pertaining to this thing called “online learning”.
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In this episode we talk about working from home with kids and what wheels we have set in motion for at home learning.
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In this, our first Zoom episode, we talk about how social distancing is affecting band and US.