Notation Resources

Learning to read and write musical notation can be confusing, no matter how young or old a musician may be. Here are some online resources that could make it easier for any musician!

MusicTheory.net is a series of excellent lessons and exercises that explain many aspects of basic staff set up all the way up through Neapolitan 6 chords.

TheRhythmTrainer is an interactive flash website that is set up like a game even my teenage students enjoy!

LightNote is a series of interactive lessons that also includes information on Sound Waves, Consonance, and Harmony.

NoteFlight is an online music notation tool. It is a fairly intuitive and completely web-based composition tool.

Enjoy!

Fun with Lip Dubs!

Lip Dubs- they're everywhere! They are usually exciting, music related videos that are (hopefully) shot all in ONE take! They're used in commercials, music videos, and as ways to bring together a community. My students have planned, organized, and executed 2 lip dubs over my years here at KHS and they have proven to be enormous amounts of fun for all parties involved.

First, we planned. We watched dozens of Lip Dubs online and decided which elements we wanted to include in our own video. Then, we mapped the school and assigned groups of people and actions to take place at specific intersections. We practiced learning the lyrics and Lip Syncing. Then, the day arrives and we hope that our recruiting efforts have paid off!

Here are some links to Lip Dubs we have done in the past:

I hope they brightened your day! 

Virginia 2017 Trip- A Recap

Greetings, Universe! A lot has happened since the last post 4 years ago, including concerts, musicals, fundraisers, football games, and another big trip (see below)! KHS Titan Music has added hundreds of new family members (students) and continues to be visible in our community spreading cheer and school spirit.

In April 2017, we traveled to Norfolk and Williamsburg, VA to participate in the Virginia International Music Festival. Our concert band, jazz band, and chorus performed on world- famous stages and we learned how to sharpen our technique from helpful clinicians. We visited Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, the National Aquarium (in Baltimore), and witnessed the amazing Virginia International Military Tattoo performance. The showcase features performers and groups from around the world and truly features 'something for everyone'. If you ever have a chance to attend, do it! Check out the commercial for 2018:

Here are some photos from the rest of our adventure:

Our groups in their concert best!

Chorus Performing at the Roper Performing Arts Center.

Jazz Band performing at Chrysler Hall, home of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

Exploring Colonial Williamsburg.

Receiving our awards at Chrysler Hall.

Our group outside of Scope Arena, preparing for the International Military Tattoo! 

I still firmly believe that travel is one of the most significant ways to impact a young person and intend to introduce as many new life experiences to my students as possible during their time in my class. Contact Performing Arts Consultants if you're interested in arranging a similar unforgettable trip!

Educational Travel- A Trip in Photos

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” 

― Gustave Flaubert

One of my goals as a teacher is to have students realize that there is an entire world outside of our small, one-square-mile town. Travel isn't always easy or convenient, but it IS necessary towards creating individuals who are globally-minded.

Last year, the planning began to take a performance trip to Washington DC. It is within a reasonable driving distance, there's a lot to see, and many of the attractions are free! I wanted to keep the cost as low as possible in order to attract as many music students.  In the end, I had 36 committed musicians, 3 teachers, a vice principal, and a school nurse on board. And we survived! Here is a sampling of our three day journey-

5:30am report time…Go to sleep!

Arrive at Union Station to eat lunch and meet our Kaleidoscope Adventures tour guide, Fran.

Super excited for the Library of Congress! 

The hidden gem of our trip- The Library of Congress- SO Beautiful!!

Our group outside the US Capitol Building

The weirdest thing I found at the Air & Space Museum- Shark Repellent! 

WWII Memorial

Lincoln Memorial Selfie

Artsy at Korean War Memorial

 

Chorus at Saturday's Performance

Band at Saturday's Performance

Ready to have fun at 6 Flags America

 

Our awards- 1st Place Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Chorus! Improvement from last year! 

Sunday at Arlington National Cemetery

Iwo Jima/Marines Memorial

Ford's Theater

Dizzy Gillespie's Trumpet- Museum of American History

Bill Clinton's Tenor Sax- Museum of American History

We walked 20 miles this weekend! Things went well- we didn't lose anybody or anything. We had one broken tenor sax and a few bumps, bruises, and headaches- but I'll take it! I'm happy to have been able to offer this experience for the students. Some of them even commented that they would look in to applying to colleges outside of our home state because of this trip! I'm proud of the way our students behaved. They represented our school with dignity and respect.

I'd like to send a big THANK YOU to the staff members (and parents!) that traveled with us and helped me stay sane. You're all wonderful! 

 I'm glad we went, but I could now use a vacation from our vacation- only 29 days of school left!!

Where have you traveled with your performing groups? Looking for ideas for a few years from now...

Instagram and Twitter and Facebook, Oh My!

There's been some debate in the world of education as to the usefulness or necessity of social media in the classroom.  As a music teacher, I find social media essential to the development and outreach of my program! Basically, I have strived to create a 'brand' for my classroom and our activities (including concerts, community service, trips, and fundraising). This brings the classroom into the students' worlds, making it more 'relevant' in their eyes and allowing for easier communication of reminders and materials to extend what goes on at school.

At the beginning of the school year, I include a release on my parental syllabus sign-off requesting permission to publish their students' picture online or in any advertising material for the department. The kids love to see themselves on the web!

Another important feature (at least for me) is to try and use the same handle or username for each platform. That way, there is only one name to remember.  In an effort to encompass all groups, classes, and events, I try to use the handle KHSTitanMusic for everything.

Facebook was the first avenue I started to use to connect with students and their families. I created a FanPage and they had to 'like' the page in order to receive the updates. The fan page functions independently of my personal account and 'liking' my fan page does not make me 'friends' with the students. I could post reminders, status updates, extension websites, events, and photos of students participating in department sponsored activities. Facebook is becoming less popular among the students because their parents are now on it, but it's still a great avenue for advertising and sharing with the community. It is still my 'most followed' social media presence. 

 At first, I didn't feel a need to be connected to Twitter, but then I realized that Twitter seems to be the most- used social media platform for my students. They are CONSTANTLY connected to Twitter, especially with the prominence of the smart phone. I pretty much post the same material to Twitter that I do to Facebook, but it seems to reach the students more immediately. Again, I do not follow the students if they follow my school page- we are not 'friends'.  I use HootSuite to manage Facebook & Twitter- I can post info or links in one place and have it publish on both sites. It's pretty convenient! 

Most recently, I started an Instagram page for the department and it's been a lot of fun! This is less for advertising and more for just connecting and celebrating student accomplishments.  I like to post photos of seniors with their college admission letters, countdowns to trips and concerts, silly faces of students, students on stage or at football games performing, and inspirational quotes. The students can tag the department in photos or I can repost something from them that is relevant and appropriate. This is also linked to Twitter to try and reach a larger audience. 

The students turn to YouTube for a number of reasons, so having a presence on that site has proven beneficial.  We do a school-wide Lip Dub at the end of the year just for fun- and again, the kids love to see their friends and themselves online! I also use private YouTube links to share concert recordings and rehearsal videos with students to do performance critiques and self evaluations. Then, they can subscribe to the department page and receive notifications when I post a new video.

Overall, meeting the students at their level of interest has proved beneficial for the development of my program. I'm always looking for new ways to bring school to the students' world. Please share if you have any great ideas! 

Rain- An opportunity for development?

One of my favorite parts about teaching High School Band is participating in experiences with my students that let them learn about and display good character. Saturday was one of those days!

Our (prone-to-flooding) town's St. Patrick's Day Parade took place despite the rainy, cold weather. I was conflicted about letting the students march and damaging their instruments, but a colleague pointed out that they blow moisture into their instruments every day. So we took a chance, and they rose to the occasion! Once they accepted that this would be an uncomfortable and wet parade, they CHOSE to not complain and did their best. They tried to have fun, and when their instruments wouldn't play or their fingers couldn't move- they sang!

Here we are waiting to step off:

Their attitudes reflected their mature decision to make the best of a gloomy situation, and for that I was grateful. I was so pleased with their attitudes, I felt a cupcake reward was in order for the students who braved the elements as a team…

Participating in music teaches many things- but this particular weekend reinforced the importance of sticking to your commitments and making appropriate attitude choices to reflect good character! Great job Titans!