Today's Presenters
Dr. Neil Wetzel
Moravian University Department Chair and Director of Jazz Studies
Participants will discuss jazz education, its importance, and how the flexibility of jazz informs us as educators when encountering "teachable moments."
Dr. Scott Watson
“Rep Prep and Custom Arrangements: Creating Warmups, Exercises and Arrangements to That Help YOUR Students Best"
Veteran music educator and composer, Dr. Scott Watson, shares practical notation-based content YOU can create for engaging and preparing ensemble musicians in lessons and rehearsals. Topics include custom warmups, rhythm games, musical “jump starts,” flash cards, and tips for crafting effective band arrangements of your own.
Mr. Kurtis Reif
President of Kodaly Educators of Eastern Pennsylvania and Current Music Educator
As you step into taking over your first classroom you are undoubtedly excited to see the vision of your program flourish, but it can be daunting to know where to begin, especially with older students. When I was first hired for a K-4 position the previous teacher did not share in my priorities for music literacy. My students could name rhythmic values traditionally but had no system of counting or internal sense of rhythm and they had never experienced solfege. I knew I needed to develop their music literacy skills from the ground up, but also knew that songs and games like Snail Snail and Apple Tree weren't going to impress them. In this workshop I will demonstrate and discuss tactics and activities to keep older beginners engaged, challenged, and successful, and how that looks different from starting with your youngest students.
Dr. Christopher Jackson
Artistic Director and Conductor of
The Bach Choir of Bethlehem
Warmups, rehearsal techniques, sight-reading, administrative and logistical issues – with so many facets to every choral rehearsal, multiple ensembles per day, and important deadlines to meet it is important to consider the role that momentum can play in the planning of each rehearsal and in the overall morale of your ensembles and classes. While you gain experience teaching and grow your “bag of tricks”, utilizing momentum as an organizing principle can help you zoom out from immediate stressors and successfully plan and execute your rehearsals and even the entire year.
