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Best Practice Findings for Online Instruction

8/16/2020

 

Remote Beginner Recruiting

4/24/2020

 

Our Band and Remote Learning

4/19/2020

 
Context
  • Students have instruments and band binders at home.
  • Every student has their own or school issued device at home.
  • Every student has a Smartmusic subscription at home.
  • Approx 400 students
  • Grade-level bands
OUR REMOTE LEARNING PLAN
  • Our purpose is to develop relationships and the individual skills to allow us to continue individual student and ensemble success when school resumes.
  • Daily work has value. Our plans ask students to play their instruments each day. This helps to establish a daily routine and plan. We all need purpose and our mental health will thrive with some structure. If a student misses a day, just get caught up the next day.
  • Daily work should take 5-15 minutes to complete.
  • Please do not let technology cause stress. Submit your work in SM, on Flipgrid, on a voice mail or send us a screenshot. Let us help!
  • We are available to help. We can provide group support and individual live coaching as needed-reach out to us! (check videos attached to the assignments for help)
  • Now is the time to support each other. We encourage all kids to participate when we have online meetings for together time. Our fun activities are as important as skill-building.

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL CARE

  • https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0id-C-9Sz7FU6Qa4Fi-UxVNufr1b95-P8LSKOABG26S-vkQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

​DAILY WORK

  • Sent out the Friday before the week begins.
  • Posted in Weekly Newsletter, Google Classroom, and Smartmusic.
  • Includes: SEL Activity, Enrichment Activity Link, Warm-up or Scale, Rhythm Set and 1 or 2 line Etude.
  • Due each day and grades recorded the following morning.
  • 3, 2, or 1 point based on completion/attempt or INCT for no work submitted.

WEEKLY MEETINGS
  • During LIVE MEETINGS we will be playing our instruments.
  • Check the Band Calendar, the Stream or Classwork for Meet-up links to the meetings!
1.Have your instrument ready to go
2. Smartmusic open on a computer or iPad
3. Use your phone or 2nd device for the meeting stream. We recommend using headphone/earbuds.
4. If tech isn't working, just jump on the meeting without Smartmusic and use the info to practice later.

CULTURE
  • Clear and Consistent Communication
  • Purposeful Work and Activities
  • Reasonable Flexibility
  • Kahoot Games/Gimkit
  • Funny Flipgrid Submissions
  • TikTok Teacher Account (so horrible)
  • Family Activities


Retention and Recruitment Happens Daily

4/7/2020

 
Retention Strategies
​Retention is a daily and ongoing process that happens in every rehearsal, every communication and every decision for your music program. The director is the one person who can control the most elements in any music program. Students’ time, talent and energy are valuable. If you want high levels of student retention, then respecting those resources must be a part of the daily operations of the program.

Start With the End in Mind. 
When creating rules, policies, calendars, etc. envision your ultimate goal for every student.  If you want students to be long-term members, with independent musical growth, then keep that the focus. Do not get tied up in chasing trophies, creating burdensome schedules or unrealistic practice expectations. The program will never be more important to anyone than it is to you, and your priority of the program will not be shared by every family. Decide what are reasonable expectations to meet the program's’ goals and be willing to live with the consequences. Many directors will win a battle or two but lose the war when structuring the program.

Quality Materials & Music
20% of the students will be “die-hard” band kids. These kids will love everything about the band almost all of the time. 10% will be “on the fence” and may only be there because a parent is insisting it happen. These kids will resist or at best tolerate almost everything about band almost all of the time. 60% of the kids will be casually committed. These students like band if it fast-paced, social, rewarding and meaningful. How do we engage all of these students? High-quality literature. Selecting your literature should be an ongoing and careful process that evolves as the group develops. The better the quality of music, the more your students will be engaged. Engaged students stay in band. 

Communication
Make it easy for students, parents, and administrators to find information easily. Update websites and social media often so your band community has a reason to check in with these sites. Frustration in finding information often causes families to give up on a program. It is critical when communicating with families that you work toward solutions to issues or conflicts. Ultimatums end relationships. Is the program there for the student or is the student there for the program? Whatever your answer, that will be at the center of your communication. Keep in mind that reasonable flexibility helps students know that they are important to you and the program. 

Consistency
Consistency in daily rehearsal structure, assessment procedures, routines, and expectations will give students a sense of security and build a foundation of trust. That trust leads to strong relationships with students and families. A critical area of consistency is in setting a calendar of rehearsals and performances. The earlier this is set and the less it changes, the easier it will be for families to keep their children in your program. Chaos in the program creates chaos for families and is disrespectful of the students’ time and home schedule.

March 22nd, 2020

3/22/2020

 
Ideas for preparing sets of instruments for appointments (whenever we return to school).
We need to approach this with a plan in hand and share it with admin and parents before they come to us. By showing we are thinking about solutions we will build trust.

This is the first draft and will be tweaked but something to think about going forward.
Traughber JHS Beginner Instrument Appointment Protocol

  1. There will a team that works exclusively with each appointment. A tester (adult music teacher) and a cleaning crew (1 or 2 older students).
  2. Each child trying instruments will have one set to use until their appointment is complete. This set should not be shared with other students until it is cleaned and ready for a new appointment.
    Flute
    Clarinet

    Alto Sax

    Trombone

    Baritone
    Percussion Sticks/Mallets
  3. Each child will have a new clarinet and saxophone reed. 
  4. Prior to each student’s appointment, the team will put on new plastic or latex gloves. 
  5. Prior to the appointment the student trying instruments will wash their hands with soap and water, rinse their mouth out with mouthwash and water and put on a set of plastic gloves.
  6. Prior to each appointment:
    1. Brass mouthpieces will be washed with soap, hot water and mouthpiece brush. Brass mouthpieces will then be set in a Listerine solution until time of use. 
    2. Brass Instrument leadpipes will be cleaned with a cleaning snake.
    3. Brass Instrument and keys will be wiped with Clorox bleach wipes and allowed to air dry.
    4. Woodwind mouthpieces will be washed with soap, hot water and a mouthpiece brush. Woodwind mouthpieces will then be sprayed with a Listerine solution.
    5. Woodwind instruments will be swabbed and keys will be wiped with Clorox bleach wipes and allowed to air dry.
    6. Drum sticks and mallets will be wiped with Clorox bleach wipes and allowed to air dry.
  7. Following each appointment:
    1. The entire set of instruments will be cleaned according to guidelines above
    2. Team members and appointment students will dispose of gloves and wash hands with soap and water.
    3. Cleaned set of instruments will be put into place for the next appointment. The set will be lightly sprayed with Lysol and allowed to air dry. ​
  8. We usually have 5 to 6 stations set up and have 4 appointments every 15 min. With this new protocol, we will set up additional stations to prevent back up. We will have 6 or 7 adult testers and up to 20 student cleaners. 

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    • Curriculum
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