Orchestra 101 Podcast

The definition of legacy is something that is passed on. This series called "Orchestra Legacies" will be focusing on local Orchestra directors who have impacted our musical community by passing on their knowledge and experience to current and future teachers.  My first guest is my own high school mentor. Charles T. Angerstein has been teaching for over fifty years.  He is presently teaching privat...

The definition of legacy is something that is passed on. This series called "Orchestra Legacies" will be focusing on local Orchestra directors who have impacted our musical community by passing on their knowledge and experience to current and future teachers.  My first guest is my own high school mentor. Charles T. Angerstein has been teaching for over fifty years.  He is presently teaching privat...

The definition of legacy is something that is passed on. This series called "Orchestra Legacies" will be focusing on local Orchestra directors who have impacted our musical community by passing on their knowledge and experience to current and future teachers.  My first guest is my own high school mentor. Charles T. Angerstein has been teaching for over fifty years.  He is presently teaching privat...

Many Orchestra teachers throughout the country are now teaching additional classes such as guitar and piano. This creates a challenge when you don't play guitar. Where do I start? What kind of guitar should I buy?  What does a beginning guitar class look like? What kind of curriculum should I use? Join me in this journey as I will be teaching guitar for this upcoming school year. My guest is Artur...

Many Orchestra teachers throughout the country are now teaching additional classes such as guitar and piano. This creates a challenge when you don't play guitar. Where do I start? What kind of guitar should I buy?  What does a beginning guitar class look like? What kind of curriculum should I use? Join me in this journey as I will be teaching guitar for this upcoming school year. My guest is Artur...

Many Orchestra teachers throughout the country are now teaching additional classes such as guitar and piano. This creates a challenge when you don't play guitar. Where do I start? What kind of guitar should I buy?  What does a beginning guitar class look like? What kind of curriculum should I use? Join me in this journey as I will be teaching guitar for this upcoming school year. My guest is Artur...

The beginning of the school year can be a very stressful time for teachers. But if we can prepare for the next school year by being proactive. In this third and last episode, our guest, Mary Escarciga, provides us with some more tips on how we can achieve that starting in May. This episode will cover how to get your student instruments ready so you can start the year performing on day one. Mary Es...

The beginning of the school year can be a very stressful time for teachers. But if we can prepare for the next school year by being proactive in May, we can make it a little less stressful. In this second episode, our guest, Mary Escarciga, provides us with some more tips on how we can achieve that starting in May. This episode will cover how to get your student music binders ready so you can star...

The beginning of the school year can be a very stressful time for teachers. But if we can prepare for the next school year by being proactive in May, we can make it a little less stressful. In this episode our guest, Mary Escarciga, provides us with some tips on how we can achieve that starting in May. This episode will cover how to incorporate students into this process, checking in your school i...

Preparing for a Music Festival can be less stressful if we know what the adjudicators are listening for. Join me and my special guest, Mrs. Adria Dunn on this second of three episodes as we talk about the adjudicators point of view especially in the sight-reading room and how we can implement these strategies in our everyday teaching.   Adria Dunn is an Orchestra director with over 27 years of exp...

Preparing for your Music Festival takes a great amount of planning. But this task can be daunting if there is no clarity on the starting point. Join me and my special guest, Mrs. Adria Dunn as we discuss the steps required to plan for our annual festival.   In this first of three episodes we discuss the many components that come into play when we are picking our Music Festival selections. We also...

Classroom management is an important aspect if a successful program. Students thrive when it is done correctly. Frustration happens when procedures are not set in place. In this third of three episodes I share several instructional strategies, guiding students on how to ask questions and how to be mindful of the energy and effort you bring to your classroom.     Links to the Resources mentioned in...

Classroom management is an important aspect if a successful program. Students thrive when it is done correctly. Frustration happens when procedures are not set in place. In this second of three episodes I share my experiences with how to engage students in the orchestra classroom, establish student rapport, defining your role as a teacher and mentor, and some more management strategies.   SUBSCRIB...

Classroom management is an important aspect for a successful music program. Students thrive when it is done correctly. Frustration happens when procedures are not set in place. In this first of three episodes I share my experiences with factors that affect student behavior, establishing class routines, how to get to know your students and discuss management   strategies.   SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW Are y...

How do we as Orchestra directors keep our high level performing students engaged in our classes? What preparation is needed to help them transition into the the collegiate music level?  Our guest, Sergio Ramos, Orchestra Director at Pebble Hills High School in El Paso, TX joins us to discuss how he creates a community and environment that fosters his high level performing students. This is a two p...

How do we as Orchestra directors keep our high level performing students engaged in our classes? What preparation is needed to help them transition into the the collegiate music level?  Our guest, Sergio Ramos, Orchestra Director at Pebble Hills High School in El Paso, TX joins us to discuss how he creates a community and environment that fosters his high level performing students. This is a two p...

Technology in the Orchestra classroom can help enhance your lesson delivery, help with classroom management, and provide options when creating assignments specific to our student needs.  In this episode I share some of my favorite technology tools that I use in my classroom such as:  Google Slides Flat Add-On Click Here >> Tutorial Video Classroomscreen.com Click Here >> Tutorial Video Musictheory...

This is the final session of a four part series on how I start Beginning Students in my classroom. I use the the Suzuki Method and modify it for the public school setting. Both my students and I have so much fun while a lot of learning is also taking place. In this final episode I finish talking about how I teach all of the Twinkle Variations; introducing more Suzuki Book 1 pieces; the method book...

This is the third part of a multiple episode series on how I start Beginning Orchestra students in my classroom. I use the Suzuki Method and modify it for the Orchestra classroom. Both my students and I have so much fun while a lot of learning is also taking place. In this third episode I share the first lessons I use to help students play their instruments for the first time, how students start p...

This is the second part of a multiple episode series on how I start Beginning Orchestra students in my classroom. I use the Suzuki Method and modify it for the Orchestra classroom. Both my students and I have so much fun while a lot of learning is also taking place. In this second episode I share how we train the muscles to hold a training bow and instrument using egg cartons and paint rollers. I...

Starting beginning students in Orchestra can be a wonderful experience when you have the right tools. I will be sharing my personal experience on how I start Beginning Orchestra students in my classroom. I have used the Suzuki Method and adapted it to the Orchestra classroom. Both my students and I have so much fun while a lot of learning is also taking place. I invite you to join me in this multi...

We continue with the second and final part of my interview with Orchestra Diretor Jesus "Chuy" Diaz on what is that "WHY" factor that keeps our students coming back our classroom year after year. Please check out the first part of this interview to hear about how our guest started his music education journey.  SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW Are you subscribed to this podcast? If you are not, I want to encoura...

What is that "WHY" factor that keeps your students coming back to your classroom year after year? "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink". We can offer our Orchestra students many opportunities but we cannot force them to take them. So how do we create that "thirst" in our students so they could choose to "drink" the water? Orchestra Director, Jesus "Chuy" Diaz, shares his expe...

This is the last episode of my 3 part interview with Cynthia Cabada on creating, shaping or rebooting your new music program. We finish our conversation with some last tips for all our fellow teachers out there who find themselves stepping in a new program this year. Please check out the the first two episodes of this series as well. Thank you so much for joining me in this conversation. I truly a...

This is the second part of a three part interview about how to Create, Shape or Reboot a new music program. In this episode we will be discussing how to setup up the following for your Orchestra organization: handbook, routines, events, curriculum, and so much more. Don't forget to check out Part 1 and Part 3 of this series as well.  SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW - Are you subscribed to this podcast? If you...