Full Description
The ideal text for college instrumental students and an invaluable reference for practicing teachers, this book covers every critical area in the professional life of band and orchestra teachers at the beginning and secondary levels. Author Lynn G. Cooper shares the experience and knowledge he has gained from more than 40 years of teaching instrumental music and music education. This second edition is significantly expanded and updated, including major new sections on advocacy, technology, and the challenges of teaching middle school students. Also included are additional student assessment strategies, updated Suggested Band Literature Lists, and more examples of effective warm-up and technique-building literature for rehearsals. A plethora of forms, sample letters, charts, and lists of suggested literature round out this enlightening text. Sample course syllabi and additional supplemental resources are available online.
Contents
Introduction and Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xiPART I: THE BEGINNING PROGRAMChapter One: Laying the Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. Roles and Goals . 3Five Principles . 14Instructional Groupings . 16Instrumentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Chapter Two: Recruiting and Retaining Beginning Students . . 23Recruitment Strategies . 23Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24Data Gathering . . 28Activities and Resources . 29Aptitude Testing . 36Student Retention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38Chapter Three: Planning for Success . . 43Materials . . 43The First Lessons . . 46Lesson Plans . 49Teaching Middle School Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56Student Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57Teacher Self-Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63G-9084revision.indd 5 8/21/15 5:07 PMPART II: THE SECONDARY PROGRAMChapter Four: Building a Curriculum . 69. Program Balance . . 69The Instrumental Program . 69The Total Secondary Music Program . . . . . . . . . . . . .71What to Teach . . 72Non-Performance Courses . 72Concert Ensembles . . 72Other Ensembles . . 75Marching Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75Jazz Ensemble . 76Pep Band . . 80Chamber Ensembles . 81String Ensembles . . 82Community Bands and Orchestras . . 82Course Descriptions . . 83Sequential Instruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86Scheduling Issues . . 87Chapter Five: Selecting Literature and Organizing the Music Library . . 95" Good" Music . . 95A Good Match . . 96The Search . 96The Selection . . 99A Core Repertoire . 100The Band and Orchestra Library . . 108Music Purchases . 108Music Library Organization . 111Large Ensemble Music . . 112Solo and Ensemble Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115Music Library Facilitation . 117Summary . . 121Teaching Band and Orchestra Lynn CooperviG-9084revision.indd 6 8/21/15 5:07 PMChapter Six: Running Effective Rehearsals . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125Quality Rehearsals . . 125A Success Plan . 126The Daily Plan— Rehearsal Content . 128Warm-up Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128Ensemble Intonation . 131Technique Building in the Ensemble . 132Problem-Solving Time . 134Ensemble Sight-Reading . 136Rehearsal Closure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137Rehearsal Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138Teaching Ensemble Sight-Reading . 140Importance . . 140Skill Development . 140Suggestions . . 141Final Thoughts on Sight-Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143Chapter Seven: Performances and Programming . . . . . . . . . . 147. The Performance Schedule . . 147. Concert Logistics and Concerns . 150Reminders for Conductors . . 154Audience Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154Programs and Ushers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157Summary . . 169Chapter Eight: Considering Some Core Issues . 173. Motivation and Discipline . 173The Problem . 173Some Solutions . . 176Enhancing the Learning Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . 179Major Events . . 181Festivals and Contests . 181Festival Hosting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184Suggestions for Festival Performances . 194Ensemble Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195Competition for Music Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207Table of ContentsviiG-9084revision.indd 7 8/21/15 5:07 PMChapter Nine: Organizing and Administering the Program . . . . . 213Program Organization . 213Band and Orchestra Handbooks . . 214Forms and Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220Music Student Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230Student Awards Program . . 230Facilities and Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
