Pedagogy and Practice

Clinics for string teachers and college students

For booking information, contact Pam at phillipsfiddlers@aol.com.
For pdf version, click here.
Handouts are available for most sessions by clicking on the title. I

Clinic Descriptions: Pedagogy and Practice
Solid, practical, doable approaches to: the large heterogeneous beginning string class, building skills in beginners, instructional techniques for all ages, sight-reading, technology, recruiting and all aspects of developing great string students and a great string program!

New for 2009 - Re-energizing the Beginning String Classroom: Many Roads to Success
Demonstration and discussion of multiple ways to approach some of the following concerns for a beginning string classroom: • Starting Class • Media and technology • Moving to music • Procedures • Flashcards/Powerpoint • Telling is not teaching: nonverbal teaching • Aural skills • Retention • Beautiful bow arms for beginners • Setting the right tone from the beginning • Pacing and classroom control • Pedagogical games • Method books and supplementary materials for strings

New for 2009 - Teaching Technique and Expressive Playing Using Grade 1 and 2 Band and String Repertoire
Specific ideas and teaching tools will be presented that can be used with grade 1 and 2 band and string repertoire to teach technique and develop expressive playing. Examples from both band and string repertoire will be demonstrated and an exciting new Alfred band and string series that includes education packs will be introduced

Teaching Technique through Repertoire
How to extrapolate the techniques you need to teach from the repertoire you have chosen and how to choose the repertoire to support the technique you want to build.

How Do I Get Published?
From one of American’s leading educational composers and editors, learn an overview of the nuts and bolts of composition. The clinic will cover a bit about the musical needs of school orchestras, copyright and arranging, the business of educational publishing and how to present your work to editors.

More Kids in Music Means More Kids in Music!
Strategies for recruiting and retention. How to start and keep large numbers of students in your program. Emphasis on strings but applicable to band and choir as well.

Keep the Best AND the Rest
Learn the successful components of a high retention rate even in the midst of increased graduation requirements and scheduling changes.

Elementary String Instruction: Set-up for Success
One secret to a great high school orchestra is the first semester of beginning instruction. Learn from a master how to get your beginners on the right trajectory to success as musicians. Everything you wanted to know about starting string players but were afraid to ask.

So How Do I Teach a Large Heterogeneous String Class?
Does large group instruction really work? Yes, more really is better! Build excitement and skills for more kids and become an economic asset to your district – tips and techniques from 28 years in a highly successful large heterogeneous classroom!

Selected Elements of a Great String Program
1. Creating a great sound: Beginners through high school. 2. Creating great readers and sight-readers 3. Alternative styles and improvisation 4. Rehearsal strategies (This topic incorporates portions of the sight-reading clinic and the Alternative Styles clinic as well as the handout attached.)

The 3 Bs: Beautiful Bow Arms for Beginners
Techniques to introduce advanced right arm skills in the large heterogeneous string class. Set the right tone from the start!

To Bow or To Blow: String Teaching for the Non-String Player
So you are now teaching strings – no problem! Wind players and vocalists make great string educators. Learn the basic technical issues that will help you to be a successful string teacher.

Telling is not Teaching – Non-verbal Instruction
Play rather than talk! Improve the impact of your delivery with specific techniques and modes of instruction.
Learn to use non-verbal modes of teaching and musical cues in your classroom that build success for your orchestra or band.

Teaching the Wonderfully Wacky: Technique for the Middle School Orchestra
Tested methods for teaching shifting, tuning, vibrato and advanced skills in the middle school string class

String Technique – Beyond the Basics
Tested methods for teaching intermediate and advanced skills in orchestra class including advanced bow strokes, sight-reading, shifting and vibrato. (This topic incorporates handouts from several other topics - just look them over.)

Beyond the Baton: Rehearsing the High School Orchestra
Set the stage to strive for excellence, refine technique and maintain enrollment in your high school orchestra with these exciting strategies and rehearsal techniques.

Motivating High School Students
Are they just bigger kids? Of course not! So what makes them tick and what keeps them in orchestra?

Sight-reading: Are you a Scout or a Jedi?
Are your students prepared or do they use the Force? Specific strategies to develop sight-reading skills with individuals and large group ensembles as well as improve note reading. How to use your time in the sight-reading room for maximum effect. Emphasis on strings but applicable to band and choir.

Bass-ically Bass – for a better sounding orchestra!
The secrets of the bass unveiled for orchestra teachers. What makes the basses different? How to feed and care for your bass section in a way that develops technical skills to equal the upper strings. Better bass-ics mean better orchestras.

Leave No Bass Behind – How to recruit, start and retain young bass players.
Develop great bass players in a heterogeneous classroom. Specific how-tos for recruiting and starting young bassists and setting them up to be as successful as the upper strings!

How Do You Know What You Don’t Know?: Bridging the gap between Studio and Public School String Teachers.
Studio and public school teachers form a symbiotic relationship that should be nurtured and cultivated. There are a variety of strategies that will help studio and public school teachers work together to create quality string playing in the public schools and universities. Special focus will be put on information that each teacher should be aware of to be truly effective in his or her teaching environment.

Trip Planning
Nuts and bolts of trips! From repertoire to meals and money – check lists for you to plan from.

I Am So Excited! I Just Can’t Wait For . . . . .
How to structure guest artist concerts, residencies, professional shows and string nights at your school without stretching yourself too thin. How to use high impact events to build support and to create excitement in your community and school!

Composing and Arranging for the School Orchestra
From one of American’s leading educational composers, learn how to blend and balance the elements needed to create successful orchestra compositions. An introduction to the world of educational publishing.

SmartMusic Made Easy for Strings: from Suzuki to Swing
No techno speak allowed! Aimed at novices! Come learn how to use one of the most exciting technologies available to string players today. The revolutionary software, SmartMusic, can be a boost for orchestra directors and studio teachers alike. See how this technology can help motivate, instruct, and evaluate using materials you are familiar with or make your own files. (Not aimed at advanced users.)

Finale
An introduction in everyday language to the notation program that set the standard for musical software.

Yearly and Long Range Planning
Its easy to teach the same thing each year, but where do you want your program to be next year, 5 years from now? Let’s investigate vision and planning within repertoire, curriculum, community support, events, recruiting, retention and your personal development as a teacher and a musician.

Team Music Department - let’s stop circling the wagons and shooting in!
Success in all music classes builds more success for each portion of the department. We are stronger together than individually. Practical ideas! Great stories! Bigger really is better!

Public Relations and Advocacy by Design
If we don’t do it, who will? But first – How do we develop support with administrators, parents, students, business and the community at large? How do administrators and school boards think? What does your community know about your program? Questions, questions! Let’s talk about the answers! Showcase the success of your students and ensembles and have fun doing it!

I Love BOC (Band, Orchestra, Choir)
Secrets of success for recruiting and motivating students that result in high retention rates and large programs. Who, what, why, where, when and how for all levels. Examples drawn from the string classroom but applicable to band and choir!

Staying on Fire without Burning Out
The highs and lows that make up a successful career in teaching: Create balance in your life. Avoid the pitfalls of burnout. Know the signs of burnout. And best of all, the solutions to burn out!

Do You Have a Vision and Do You Know How to Get There?
Let’s set the vision for our kids and our community! The goal – excellent musical achievement! How do we set those goals, paint the picture, lead the way and still have a life? Goal setting and time management for those who love music but still need to take time to eat and sleep.