"No, no, no... you're holding it upside down!"
"Pretend you just ate a lemon and make a sour face..mmmm"
"left hand on top, Left hand on Top, LEFT HAND ON TOP!"
"Yes, you do sound like a dying elephant..."
"A reed it tastes like... well... wood"
Ah -- September marks so many different favorite moments of mine, including, teaching beginning instrumental lessons. A time of having to contort yourself around a student to help them hold a trombone, touch much more spit then necessary to fix a reed, or just endure the lovely sounds that come out of an instrument the first time it is played...
This past week, I had the pleasure of teaching five different 4th grade beginning lessons on their brand new instruments. Each year I forget how painful the first lesson can be. My first lesson last Monday was 4th grade sax students. This year we have a rather larger 4th grade and have 5 students in this group. Normally, they would be split into 2 smaller groups, but there is just no more free time in mine or the band teacher's schedule. Wow, let's just that was the longest 30 minutes of my life and I left the lesson wishing someone replaced my poland spring water bottle with another clear liquid (that was stronger and would make me think of happy places.) I never had a group have so many issues putting together a sax, it is one of the easier instruments to assemble. And forget about making a sound..... or even holding it! It actually took us the full 30 minutes to just put the reed on correctly, play a little on the mouthpiece/neck, and then put the instrument together, then take it back apart. Oh I should mention that during this 30 minutes, I had 2 twin brothers fighting with each other, and another one of the students having an anxiety attack because they weren't perfect yet. Fun fun fun -- very very happy that we are off this Monday.
Next lesson on Monday is one of my beginner low brass groups, a baritone and 2 trombones. All boys. They got buzzing right on and no puffy cheeks. They put together and held their instruments with no issues (even though it can hurt little hands to hold a trombone). They even were able to play nice long tones on F! We even played the first 3 lessons in the book, F's, Ebs, and a mix of both! Wow -- there is a chance everything will be good this year!
A few days pass (5th grade lessons mixed in, who are dream!) Next new lesson is beginning clarinet -- a group of 4. [ **I do need to state that I myself have never taught clarinet before, and this year will be a learning experience for me as well**] I had high hopes for this group since 2 out of the 4 were some of my top recorder players, 10th degree blackbelt students. Also part of this group was a girl who never figured B, A, G and a boy who is very adhd, couldn't hold a recorder, and has a hard time focusing. Who would have guessed that my unfocused boy would be 10 steps ahead of me, putting the clarinet together perfectly with no issues, and could make a perfect sound on the instrument. Who would have also guessed that my 2 10th degree black belt recorder kids would have a super hard time putting together the instrument, placing the reed, and finding where the thumb holder was on the clarinet (one even put his right hand on top?!). Oh and the girl, shes doing okay, which for her is great. I think they will be fine -- but wow, kind of a shocker.
Finally, my last 2 new lessons of the week were on Friday. First up was my other low brass group, again 1 baritone and 2 trombones, cept this time all girls (split up by class not gender, just worked out that way). They did okay, had more issues holding the instruments and getting that first sound out -- they will need a lot more coaxing and work, but they will get it. Then came my 4th grade percussion group! This group will be my dream group, at least I hope. I have the 2 best recorder players in the class (both were grand masters by June) and the third, well just has natural rhythm (and it helps that her older brother was one of the best percussionists to leave our program). So 2/3 already read treble clef quite well, and 1/3 has taken a year of percussion lessons already. They all had good success holding the stick and were able to handle basic sticking exercises. They are also excited about learning bells! I can't wait -- for once the percussionists won't give me a headache!
So that just sums up my first week of new lessons. It shall be an interesting year to say the least.
Now, I do pose a question to you the reader... what is your favorite 1st lesson story? Please share -- whether horrible, hilarious, or even better inspiring!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
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As a teacher, my personal favorite came during the fourth grade recorder unit... In my district, the kids don't get to do band until they get into 6th grade, but in fourth grade we do Recorder "Karate" as I know many do. They do a lot of independent working during this unit so I can work one on one with students, which is so much fun, but I do remember my one kid who, while I was working with another comes up and says "Hey Miss Rains!" I of course put a hand up to signal for them to wait while I finish up with this student, which of course doesn't work, because then I hear "Miss Rains, did you know that you can play the recorder with your NOSE!?" At which point I look up to see my fourth grader (a boy) playing "Hot Cross Buns" through his nose... at which point I told him to go to the bathroom and wash his recorder... with soap....
ReplyDeleteMy favorite as I was younger was when we were all in band (I was a flute player), and our saxes would play, and then our band director walked out of the band room to the playground (the band room had an outside door) and then came back in proclaiming, "I was just checking to make sure there were no geese swarming the school!!!" Oh beginning band...Loved it!