Gearing Up For the Holidays!

Cougars are on the move!  I am so proud of our Jazz Band members who performed in Charlotte November 17th at Bank of America downtown.  Classroom Central has called us back to perform 3 times for their annual fundraisers and this was their Birthday Gala!  The jazz band looked and sounded great in the Urban Garden portion of the tower.  Raven O. sang vocals while Dantarious C, Joseph A, Mikhalis H, and Tyron M played the the horn lines and drums.  Excellent work Cougars.  The kids are really on the move!

There is a lot going on as we near the end of the semester and we need the help of all of our parents to keep students focused on learning as we near the winter break.  Students have 2 primary assignments that are due before break.  Part of our new Common Core Curriculum is a piece called Cultural Relevance where students must make connections between music and other areas.  One way students are making that connection is every student will be making a poem, which must be at least 3 lines long, that expresses their personal view of this season.  This assignment is due on Monday, December 17th.  The poem should include a title, student's first and last name, class period, and it must be typed, but it does not have to be printed.  Students can send it via email.  The second big assignment is the Living Room Concert.  Students will put on a concert in their home.  The particulars are in the project info sheet click the link for the sheet.  Students must make a program for their concert and must play 5 songs.  The Living Room Concert Project is due on December 18th.

I know everyone is excited about the Winter Spectacular, Thursday, December 13th 6pm at York Chester.  It is going to be a great show and will showcase an array of the talent that we have in our performing arts department at York Chester Middle School.  I expect to see all of your smiling faces and all of your wonderful families as we celebrate this wonderful season together!  I could not do what I do at York Chester without your support and constant help.  Make sure your student is practicing each night to make their performance great! Students will wear their own black dress pants, black dress shoes, black socks, and the black Cougar Band Polo.  if your student does not have a shirt, make sure your order one from me.  GO COUGARS!

So many Choices

This first 9 weeks has been a great growing experience for me. I have found some great uses for technology in the band classroom from setting up a recording station for tests on one of the desktops in my room to using my classroom iPads to remediate some students in my class while accelerating others or using the iPads to take tests where we use Flubaroo to grade them. I found uses for technology that make class instruction more effective and enjoyable for my students. I am also using the technology in my class for student reflection and creating products.

Through this experience, I have found my favorite app, Doceri. It is a powerful app with a lot of uses. I have used it to create instructional videos about songs that we are performing. The Cultural Relevance piece of the Common Core standards gives me an avenue to share with students the background, historical context, and relevance to the lives of of my students needed to make a connection to the music. With the app's interface you can write on screen while it records your voice. There are several very useful backgrounds that can be used and pictures can be inserted. I have experienced many of these features from other apps, but the things that puts Doceri over the top is the desktop download. When Doceri is placed on your desktop you can sync the two and then you have control of your desktop from your iPad. Not like a mouse...you can actually see what is on your desktop on your iPad and you have a touch screen desktop right in your hands. Doceri has proven invaluable in my classroom instruction.

The most difficult thing I have dealt in this process is all of the choices. Sometimes it is so overwhelming trying to decide what exactly which tool to use for the task and why use one tool over another. Through this process I feel that I have become a better educator, because I am really thinking more about what i want my students to learn, how to get them there, and then I look at the results and try to do it even better the next time...whew!

I feel very fortunate to be a part of this process and just like the kids, I get excited and doing things in new and more engaging ways.

Finishing 1st 9 weeks and Yo Che Fest

Lights, Camera, Action... It is time to get the show on the road and finish up this 1st 9 weeks.  The end of the first 9 weeks is almost here...just 1 week left.  I have had a blast this first 9 weeks and I think we have gotten off to a great start.  6th grade band is sounding better everyday.  The 7th Grade Band is doing great with some players even being higher chairs than some 8th graders, and the 8th grade band has a wonderful sound that is getting better each rehearsal.  I am so pleased with the progress that the bands have made.  Now on with this last week of the 1st 9 weeks!

Yo Che Fest, the York Chester Music and Arts Festival, is this Saturday, October 27th from 12-4pm on the front lawn of the school.  7th and 8th Grade bands will participate along with our jazz band.  The chorus at York Chester will go on also.  The York Chester groups will go on about 12pm.  There will be professional groups, church groups, dance groups, and much more at the festival.  The Beta Club will be in charge of games and there will be sidewalk chalk for young attendees.  The event is free just bring your lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy the entertainment.  Concessions will be sold.  We do need parent volunteers, so please let us know if you can help out.

Since this is the last week of the 1st 9weeks, it is time to wrap up all of our work.  If your student has an assignment to retake it must be done by this Friday.  Students are allowed to retake any assignment as many times as they would like.  Practice Charts, which are part of all students homework grade, are due Friday.  7th & 8th Grade students should be practicing 20 minutes a night and 6th Grade students should be practicing 10 minutes a night.  Students should record their practice on their Practice Charts, which parents should sign every week.  Only students who qualify for their Band Karate Belts are eligible for an "A" in the class.  The first 9 weeks assignments for belts are due by this Friday.

This a great time to be a Cougar!  Let's finish this 9 weeks strong, and Come on out this Saturday, October 27, from 12-4pm for the 2012 Yo Che Fest.  GO COUGARS!

The COUGAR BLUES

Cougar Family, I hope you all had a great weekend. We had a wonderful Band Night Out this past Friday with our 8th & 7th Grade Band members. We had a blast cheering on those Huskies.  On behalf of Mr. Radford and the Huskie Band, thanks for coming out Cougars!

Band Family we have some wonderful things going on this month.  We invite everybody to the annual York Chester Music and Arts Festival 2012 (YO CHE FEST) on October 27th from 12-4pm.  The 7th & 8th Grade Bands will perform along with the Chorus. This is our culminating activity for Hispanic Heritage Month, also. We will have special guests such as local dance teams, church groups, and professional artists. If you check the band calendar, I will keep updating the list of performers. There will be concessions, games, music, and just a whole lot of community pride, so come on out!

This week we are going to be working hard to become better musicians. Our 6th Grade Beginning Band students need to practice 10 minutes nightly and record it in their practice charts. I will check charts next week. Practice is a graded part of average for all students. We are quickly approaching the end of the 1st 9 weeks, October 29th, and we need all students to have their book, Measures of Success Book 1 $9. If your student brings $9 in, I will get the book brought to the school. Students will also have a test on 1.12 this Friday; therefore, have them practice up to that exercise in the book. Consistency is the key! If students are not practicing on a regular basis at home, they will not excel.

7th Grade band students are improving each day, but we need several students to purchase a Foundations for Superior Performance Book $7 and some baritones need to purchase a mouthpiece $25. Remember to bring in your money for your book or mouthpiece and we will get what ever you need brought to the school. We will check Practice Charts the week of October 15th. Students should practice 20 minutes a night in order to receive full academic credit for their practice. This Friday 7th Graders will be tested on their Concert F Major Scale. Let's keep getting better students!

The 8th Grade Band will continue to lead the band in our work ethic. This Friday, students will play their Concert C & G Major Scales. 8th Graders like 7th Graders should practice 20 minutes a night and we will have our second practice chart check the week of October 15th. Remember it is not just about the amount of time that one practices, it is about the quality of that time. Like I tell the students, "don't count the time...make the time count".  

We will begin the Cougar Band Karate Belt Incentive Program this week. So all students should be working on their belt assignments. Remember only students who fulfill the Belt requirements each 9 weeks are eligible, along with other assignments, to receive and "A". 

Each student is compiling an ePortfolio which is used as a collection of their work for the year and to help mark progress. If you would like to check your child's progress, you can check the Parent Assist program through Gaston County Schools and I can send you part of their ePortfolio. If I can do anything to keep you better informed please let me know.

I am excited about the week ahead. Keep those Cougars Practicing each night. That is the only way to improve. GO COUGARS!

The COUGAR BLUES

The Cougars are rolling again! We are so proud of NEW Jazz Messengers members Joseph A. and Raven O. and former jazz band member Corinthia F. who played for an event this weekend for Secretary of State Elaine Marshall. These 2 students did a great job and received many compliments from all in attendance.Looking for another great year from the Jazz Messengers.

I am very happy with the start of the school year we have had. Parents I do need your help with a couple of items.  Please, make sure your student is bringing their instrument daily, which is part of their daily grade.  Also, make sure your student takes their instrument home each night and practices (10 Minutes a night for 6th Grade and 20 Minutes a night for 7th & 8th Grade). Students are supposed to record their practice time on their practice chart that was in the band handbook they received at the beginning of the year. I will check the charts periodically as part of the homework grade.

I want to remind everyone to secure the book for their instrument as soon as possible, because we have already begun using them in class.  If your student bring me the money I can get the book if getting to the music store is a problem.  6th Grade needs Measures of Success Book 1 $9 immediately.  They will need Foundations for Superior Performance $7, later in the year.  7th Grade should already have Measures of Success Book 1 $9 and they will also use Foundations for Superior Performance $7. 8th Grade is using the Foundations for Superior Performance $7. Baritones players will need to secure their own personal mouthpiece and clarinet and saxes need 5 good reeds at all times.

This is an exciting week coming up as we introduce BAND KARATE! Before you get really concerned, let me explain. This is an incentive program where as students complete specific band assignments, they will be awarded colored belts. This is a partial fulfillment of the 9 weeks assignments. Only students who complete the belt program for each 9 weeks will qualify for and "A" for that 9 weeks. This is a fun way to award the excellence that so many students display. Students will receive a list of assignments for the Band Karate Program on Monday.

THIS WEEK:
The jazz band will rehearse tomorrow after school until 4:30pm, and the pep band will practice Tuesday after school until 4:30pm.  The pepe band will be playing at this Wednesday's home football game

BAND NIGHT OUT is this Friday, October 5th at Hunter Huss. 7th & 8th Grade Band students will play along side the Hunter Huss Band in the stands.  Students will get into the game free and they will be given snacks during the 3rd quarter. It will be a fun night to let our Cougars experience a little of what it will be like to play in the high school band. Students will receive further information to take home tomorrow.

Cougar Band family, thank you for all that you do.  You are a great group to work with and I look forward to great things all year long. GO COUGARS!

THE COUGAR BLUES

Cougar Family we have officially kicked off our Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.  We are learning more about hispanic culture in particular music styles such as: Merengue, Mariachi, and of course Salsa to name a few.  Students have learned about the lives of Celia Cruz vocalist, Gloria Estefan vocalist, and Marc Anthony Vocalist. We celebrate our diversity at York Chester and the contributions of Latino Americans. 

Coming up this week each grade level will have assignments that, as usual, should be placed in their SWOOSH notebooks.  Take note of what you child's band is working on and make sure they work on it at home nightly.

6th Grade Beginning Band
Fantastic start to the year beginners! Parents, now we need your help.  Your student needs to have the book and supplies for their instrument.  See Supply List.  

Thanks in advance parents.  Beginners are working on their first note which in their book Measures of Success is listed as 1.1.  They should practice each night and use good posture and work to achieve a good tone on their instrument. We have a band Youtube page, Cougar Band Youtube page, that you as parents and your student can use that demonstrate proper instrument care, hand position, etc. Students will have 2 worksheets per week to finish that deal with, musical literacy.

7th Grade Intermediate Band
I am excited about this new 7th grade band.  Parents make sure your student is practicing every night and placing the time of practice in their Practice Chart.  We had our Practice Chart check and apparently several parents have not seen the chart.  It is located in the Band Handbook.  Students assignments this week include the Ab & F Major Scales on page 43 in the Foundations book or page 50 in the Measures of Success book. Students are also working on Twinkle Little Star of Rhythms, where they play a version of the nursery rhyme that has changes in the rhythms.  There are also 2 worksheets per week that all the students are responsible for finishing.

8th Grade Advanced Band
We always have a great group of top musicians at York Chester, and this year is no different. Chris T has been knocking out our rhythm challenges and we have more to come. 8th Grade is getting ready for some scale assessments this week, Eb Major, Ab Major, and Bb Chromatic.  These are along with the Twinkle Little Star of Rhythms B and C lines. Students should be practicing each night and placing the amount of time they practice in their Practice Chart, which can be found in their Band Handbook. I will check Practice Charts occasionally, dates on the Practice Chart. This past week was a check week and I noticed some parents had not seen the charts.  Please make sure your student uses them nightly.  

We are starting Jazz Band practices this week, Monday and Wednesday, and Pep Band Practices, Tuesday.  Pep band is open to all students.  All of these rehearsals will take place 3:15-4:30 after school and students will need a ride waiting after practice in order to participate, unless they walk home.

Parents thank you for keeping your students motivated and practicing. As an educator we depend on you to help make the connection between what we do at school and the reinforcement that takes place at home. We appreciate all you do. GO COUGARS!

COUGAR BLUES

Cougar Family we are about to get busy!  There is so much that we have going on and we want to make sure that you are all aware and we want you to be a part.

Parents always remember that your student should have homework assignments for every class written in their SWOOSH notebook (AGENDA/PLANNER).  If your child says they do not have any homework on a continual basis, you should be concerned.  Band students have an assignment each night and many other teachers have nightly assignments especially during the week.

THIS WEEK 

1. We will be doing our first practice chart check.  All students have a practice chart in the band handbook given to them on the first day of school.  In it they should record their amount of time they practice each night and they must have a parent signature to confirm the amount of practice.  

2. We will check for materials more closely.  Students should have all materials from the Supply List this week.  Brass instrument should have oil ($4) for their instrument.  Clarinets and Saxophones should have 5 good reeds ($2 Clarinet, $2.50 Alto Sax, $3 Bass Clarinet, $3 Tenor Sax) at all times.  If there are any concerns, our problems getting an item, please contact Mr. Wilson.

3. We will be ordering our band shirts ($17) on September 28.  Make checks payable to York Chester Middle School Band.  Please be advised the shirts are all adult sizes.  These are the embroidered polo shirts that we will use for performances.

4. Parents you will also notice that your student has assignments on Edmodo.  Whether you have internet at home or not students have their own Edmodo account.  We use it to give tests, polls, for reflection on assignments and a million other things.  It looks similar to Facebook, but it is 100% NOT FACEBOOK.  Students messages are to the whole class as we work on assignments and only members of our class are in Edmodo.  Students can not invite other people and there is not messaging each other.  I control all access to the class page and I can see who writes everything and I can delete any message.  

Well Cougars, here we go on another action paced week.  Have a GREAT WEEK! GO COUGARS!

First 9 Days in the Books

We have had a SMASHING start to a new school year, in the COUGAR BAND.  We have title the first several days as our W.O.W. or Week of Welcome!  York Chester looks great our students have come back ready to roll.  There are a lot of new things going in the YC Cougar Band.

First, the band is a part of the Gaston County Schools iPad Pilot Program.  The Apple iPad is a fantastic tool to make learning more fun and to make learning more interactive.  The iPad is on the cutting edge of technology and learning today and we have them in the Cougar Band.  WOW!

Secondly, we have arranged our classrooms to make students the center of the action.  Students are being grouped into pods of collaborative learners, because we know that working with other students is a better way of preparing our students for a 21st Century work environment. Like the old saying says "two heads are better than one".

In the band we have been very busy.  The first few days we did our Peer to Peer interview project.  We  used this as a way to learn more about one another and to use 21st Century Technology literacies.  We have also been working on our Bb Scale in 7th & 8th Grade.

We are now in the process of playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star of Rhythms with 7th & 8th Grade, which is our first playing test.  Our 6th Grade band students are learning how to read music using resources like musictheory.net. 6th Grade has also begun to produce their first sounds on their instruments.

Yes, it is really exciting!  Check out our band website COUGAR BAND.  It has all current information for our band family.  Students should have their blue band form from the band handbook and yellow google form turned in.  If they still have these forms, please ask them to bring them Monday.  I will send out information in several ways: email, blog, tweet (@ycbluesgroove or #yccougarband), calls, and hardcopy. Our band youtube page has videos that students will use as part of their lessons bit.ly/yccougarbandtube. We also have created Edmodo accounts for students to assess lessons and interact to work through problems.

Great things are going on in the Cougar Band.  Get on board with everything we have going.  Come be a part of the family.  GO COUGARS!

iPad Bootcamp

I love technology and I have had a blast with the Pinnacle team this summer.  Hooraayyy Pinnacle!  The way that I teach will never be the same.  And I mean that in a positive way.  I am learning and it has helped me remember what it feels like to be a student.

After all of the training in June and early July I thought I was getting the hang of the iPad and the many ways that it can impact teaching and learning.  Boy was I wrong!  After spending 3 days specifically dealing with the iPad I feel like I have been to a mental boot camp.

Day 1 learning how to sync the devices using the MacBook was challenging to my point and click nature.  Even though I know I will have to refer to the handouts to remember how to sync everything, I am starting to get the concept of gestures in computing.  It is a powerful new way of experiencing computing.  I find it much more enjoyable and more natural.

Day 2 as we began to really look at apps purchase.  I feel fortunate to not only been given a chance to do the iPad pilot, but to be given a jump start on buying apps with the voucher was really nice.  I already had a couple of apps that I new would be great tools to help my students and provide a new type of learning experience for them, but I was not prepared for day 3.

Day 3 WOW! Leslie Fisher came in and it was like ok...I had no idea what this thing was capable of.  You should see my Evernote of the session.  I just scroll and scroll.  Things like Aurasama that brings images to life.  The $20 bill was just freaky.  I also got a new appreciation for Evernote, which I think I am going to use for ePortfolios for my kids.  I did not realize all of the different applications that share with Evernote.  It kind of made it a no brainer.  Run Pee was too funny.  How about an app that tells you what you missed in a movie when you have to get up and go to the restroom...who thinks of this stuff.  So many apps, so little time.  It really reminded me of the fact that the curriculum comes first, because there is an app to do practically anything that you may want to do and you can get lost in all that's out there if you don't have something that is your focus.

The iPad is such a powerful tool.  I am now using it in music performance using the Griffin Studio Connect to access all of the sounds in Garage Band.  I look forward to addressing the demands of the music curriculum, global awareness, and 21st century education using the newest member of my toolbox.

"But Out's"

Teaching in the 21st Century is constantly evolving to keep up with the demands of this "Brave New World".   Notice I said teaching...Unfortunately, the education system is a ship much slower to get turned in the right direction; therefore, it falls to the teachers who are on the front lines to make the needed changes to prepare our students for what they will be faced with, in an institution of higher learning or in the modern workplace.

I know that I will have to make my teaching more global in nature.  I will have to make connections with other forms of the arts and other subject areas, in order to make learning most impactful for my students.  Students have to understand "Why".  Sometimes I don't fully give them the "Why".  I may assign a project or a musical passage and I need them to understand what that means to them.  I need them to understand what we do is meaningful.  I have great students who listen and try, but I need to equip them better with real world connections.

Access to technology is a necessity as we prepare our students for the world they will be entering upon graduation.  I want to make the use of technology in my room more streamline with my educational objectives.  Sometimes I have used certain technologies because they were there, but not because there was a strategic advantage in using it.  I have learned from the training this past 5 days that it is about the content not about the bells and whistles that I put on it.  I want to use my access to different technologies this years to enhance student learning and create an environment where the students take control of their learning, by using Higher Order Thinking Skills(HOTS) in order to solve problems.  

Lastly, I want to create an even more collaborative environment for my students.  I want them to know that it is of the utmost importance that they learn to team and use each other's strengths to prepare a product.  I want to help them see that we can accomplish so much more when we learn to work as a unit.

It is going to be an exciting year!

Failure...a part of the art of Play

My father often says, "you learn more from your failures, than your successes".  I have tried to impart that same knowledge to my students each day.  Being that we are a performance arts class, our goal is perfection.  For example, students in most classes are happy with an "A".  Well, an "A" is scored, on the low end, at 93%.  That does not work well in music.  That means 7% of the time we are playing wrong rhythms, pitches, dynamics, articulation, etc.  This is not very appealing to listen to.  My students understand that we strive for perfection, which is unattainable, but to continue to improve and striving for being better than the last time is the key.  Our mistakes actually teach us.  I want to continue to offer my students opportunities to fail, and grow from the experience.  We will continue to miss notes and play rhythms wrong, and when we get those right...we will find some more challenging rhythms and notes to play incorrectly.  Through the experiences in my class, I will continue to teach my students that it truly is about the journey...not the destination. I created a poster for my wall and as a class we state what it says...in the words of the great John Wooden, "Failure is NOT Fatal...but Failure to change could be".

FLIPPING THE RBT MODEL

The RBT model is playing a huge role in the Essential Standards that we are preparing for in GCS.  I believe that the model has been a little misinterpreted.  I don't believe the revised Blooms is to be strictly adhered to in the triangular diagram as we have seen.  Ms. Wright's notion to flip the model is example of what I mean.  The model is still intact, but it should always leave room to for innovating thinking.  There are times when the model should be flipped or certain steps are skipped and returned to later.  The bottom line is that the model works.  Our approach to it should be more subjective to the activities and results we are trying to achieve.  Feel free to flip...turn it inside out...etc.  But no one particular way can be a "Be all end all". We want to always keep a lot happening "Between the Ears".

ISTE Essential Conditions

I feel very fortunate at my school to have many technology resources at my disposal. The students have access to a myriad of technology in all classrooms and even gym. This said, we have a way to go to fully meet the ISTE Essential Conditions.

Where we are lacking, as far as the ISTE Essential Conditions is having Shared Vision. We need a renewed focus on why we have the technology. I too many times see it used as a time filler and not a seamless integration into the instruction. This in turn will make the integration of technology more meaningful.

There also needs to be more Skilled Personnel...think most schools would say that. There are some faculty members who are fantastic with integration of technologies, but we need everyone to come over to that side.

I think most schools would say they are in need of Ongoing Professional Learning, and we are no different. I am excited to have exponentially grown my PLN over the last few days, and I look forward to helping other teachers do the same.

So you ask how would we rate against the ISTE Essential Conditions...we have a wonderful advantage in the fact that we have the technology, for that I am thankful. But, we have a ways to go to make it the meaningful and empowering tool that it can be. I will try to "Be the Change that I want to see". Thanks Ghandi!