Today's class focused on the requirements needed to successfully complete the class and hopefully set the stage for meaningful arts program in the school environment. There is a lot to do and somewhat challenging. I must pay attention to the 26 best teaching practices in my lessons. It was agreed that we cannot incorporate all of the practices in one lesson but that by using them correctly we can develope and instill an appreciation for the arts among students that will translate throughout the school and community. I rather look forward to the trip to D.C. in the coming months. There is so much history, culture, and art there. Hopefully what we learn there on the weekend will help when we return. I do not look forward to riding the train.

Today we had a Thanksgiving reception after school for the teachers and staff. The food was delicious and everyone was in a joyous spirit. We ate and greeted each other throughout the meal and looked forward to the next few days of rest and relaxation. At the end of the meal the Principal greeted the staff and told why he was thankful. From that point on each one of the staff gave their reasons for being thankful. When the time came for me to give my reasons I knew what to say as far as life, liberty, friends and family but from there I had realized that I am in a school that has welcomed me and had appreciated what I do and what I mean to the overall success of the school. From the Principal to the custodial staff music was part of the growth and developement of our students. I mentioned some of the events we had planned for the new year and the looks on their faces seemed( genually) pleased. This has been a good year so far and hopefully it will continue

MORE TO COME

Yesterday the 19th of November, my string students performed at our third PTSA meeting. We have a new prinicpal at Thomasville Heights Elementary and he is very supportive of the music program at the school. Unlike most of the adminstrators I have worked with, he seems truly interested in arts program in his schools and sees us an important aid to the developement of the students and how we can reach our targets. These are first year 4th grade string students. We played with the bow yesterday for the that program. The first two times we used pizzicato.
Which brings me to today's lesson: November 2o,2009. Now that I am taking this class on Saturdays, I have become more aware of what I am doing and procedure. I am becoming conscious of deadlines , timelines, and details. The students this year vary in their abiliy and locals. The students at Thomasville are very talkative which mean more stricter discipline and consequences from me to get my point across. My other schools are more structured and disciplined. Although time restrictions are a problem, my students are learning very well and are commanding good control of the instruments( posture, intonation, bowing etc). I am beginning to teach note reading and rhythms through the program pieces more than the lesson book. The general music teacher as help unwittingly by teaching notes and rhythms and I can easily transfer some of what he has taught to my lesson.

Today I attended Dunbar Elementary School. I had a lesson with two of my string student, the others had a program to attend so I was able to have some relative one on one with these two strudents. These two students are in the fifth grade and for the last two years they were not that interested in violin lesson until this year. This year they seem more motivated to play and they even can play as well as those students who were with me from the beginning.
My lesson consisted of a little swing tune that they love. I used piece as an incentive to get them to play the other pieces I would need for upcoming programs and music festival. I challenge them to hold there instrument better, better intonation, and posture.

procedure: On certain difficult passges, I have them play the part 5 times increasing the tempo to where it is suppose to be in the music. It seems to have some good learning results. I plan to do this tomorrow at my other schools and determine how well it works.

Arts A.P.S.Means to Me.

The arts in the Atlanta Public Schools is very important to full developement of the student. All students need to be inspired creatively through some form of music, visual arts, theatre, or dance.