This is a large think tank for all music educators. It was created when I sat down one evening and continued to come up with nothing for a new lesson plan. The goal is to be a follower-based blog, where followers submit and post content for others to react and give feedback.
-radboyscout.tumblr.com
Again, sorry I let this sit for a while. I don’t have any experience dealing with administrators and that is partly why I decided to change my major from music education. Does anyone from the think tank have any ideas?
-Nick
Sorry it took so long to answer, I’ve been busy. I’ve been out of the music ed loop for a bit, too. Does anyone have any good ideas? (Call and response games are fun. You might want to start with a certain goal in mind and work from there, like teaching rhythm, etc…)
-Nick
Please take a look and follow if you get a chance. :)
I am officially announcing my candidacy for New York State Senate to replace Senator Owen Johnson in SD-4. He served the great state of New York for over four decades and we are grateful for his service and we respect his decision to retire. I believe that my young, fresh eyes will bring a lot to the table and make some positive changes for New York. As a liberty-minded candidate, I plan on working towards reviving our Nation’s constitution and focusing on what our founding fathers believed was best for this country. I am currently running as an independent, but am seeking backing from the Libertarian Party. My name is not currently on the ballot, but if that does not change by November I will remain a write-in candidate. My team and myself are looking forward to the coming months and I look forward to making New York a place to always be proud of.
If you have any questions, feel free to go to my ask box. As of now, this is my official tumblr and campaign virtual headquarters.
-Nicholas P. Errico
NY SD-4
I made this announcement the other day. What are some education related topics that you would like to bring to light to a senatorial candidate? (Unfortunately, it’s only state senate)
Libera Me movement of Verdi’s Requiem.
Jennifer Rowley, Soprano
Dr. Mark Shapiro, Cond.
St. Cecilia Chorus and Orchestra
LIU Post Chorus, Guest Artists
Article written by Nicholas Errico from a LIU Post Department of Music publication:
On April 21, 2012, the LIU Post Chorus joined forces with the St. Cecilia Chorus and Orchestra at Carnegie Hall to bring to life a masterpiece of the Romantic era: Verdi’s Requiem. This bold undertaking was led by the illustrious director of the LIU Post Chorus, Dr. Mark Shapiro, whose recent appointment to the Conductor position of St. Cecilia allowed for such a collaboration to occur. Verdi’s Requiem is a setting of the traditional funeral mass, written for double chorus and four soloists. However, Dr. Shapiro, known for tackling interesting and adventurous works, took on a unique interpretation of the piece. He felt Verdi was trying to convey, through his theatrical writing style, the carnal nature of man; a human sacrifice. It is reported that he would often bellow “Kill the soprano!” to the choruses while rehearsing the Libera Me. Dr. Shapiro brought to life this amazing work with such vivacity that it easily transferred through his conducting and inspired the performers. The sacrificial soprano soloist, Jennifer Rowley of the Metropolitan Opera, left the audience enthralled with her vocal acrobatics, tackling intense passages with apparent ease and effortlessness. The Dies Irae movement (translates to “Day of Wrath”) clearly showed the flexibility of the chorus, with its hellfire and brimstone nature, when followed by the angelic Agnus Dei. This is not easy for many professional choruses to accomplish. Yet, for many of the LIU Post choristers, it was a Carnegie Hall debut. Numerous LIU Post faculty members also joined the performance as members of the orchestra, bringing a distinctive “circle of life” sentiment to their students. As the last note faded to the back of the house, the performers were humbled with a standing ovation and raucous cheers of approval and, in many ways, validation. Bravissimo to the bravado of Dr. Shaprio and the workmanship of the LIU Post chorus. Congratulations to all on a job well done.
Not a problem. I almost deleted it because I receive a lot of spam on this blog, lol. I hope I was able to help with your cause. Well, it’s our cause. The arts need to be supported anywhere and everywhere.
-Nick
I have a super important favor to ask of you and all of the lovely music majors/marching band/anyone who cares.
My name is Emily and I live in South Carolina. I moved here in 2003, just at the beginning of my 8th grade year. Before then, I had been playing clarinet for four years. The band program there was alright and I was a decent player. But I moved here and continued with band because I’d developed an attachment to it.
When I finally got in to class, I realized I was way out of place. They were not only playing harder music, but learning theory as well. Something I had never done. To say it was challenging is an understatement. But I kept on trying because it was fun and interesting to learn a whole different side to something that I’d fallen in love with.
At the end of my 8th grade year, the high school band director came to our class where we had signed up to audition for a spot in the marching band. It’s safe to say that I made the right decision in continuing my love for music.
I completed 4 years at two different schools, all while being a part of marching band, jazz band, symphonic band, winter guard, theater and winter percussion. The experiences, the memories and all of the people I’ve met through those 4 years is something that I would never ever for all the money in the world take back. I would not be the person I am today with out any of that.
Being in band is like having a giant extended family that you spend way too much time with and get to know people more than you would have cared to in the first place. Even though you may not all get along, they will still stand by your side regardless. Being a part of something bigger, creating sounds with your lungs, telling a story through your movements, that is something special. It is a feeling that is indescribable. And anyone that has ever been a part of band knows exactly what it feels like and exactly what I’m talking about. It is a rare and unique experience to be apart of something so big.
That’s why I’m coming to you.
Our South Carolina governor Nikki Haley is attempting to veto the funding for South Carolina’s arts program.
With that being said, it shakes me to the very core that someone is ready to let something so amazing, something so life changing, wither away into nothing. Marching band is a big thing in South Carolina. The dedication, hard work and talent that is put into it is undeniably astounding here and I am overflown with pride to say that I’ve been a part of something so great.
This is where you come in.
If you do nothing else with your time on tumblr, if you’ve dedicated yourself to band, chorus, guard, percussion, strings, theater, art or just enjoy it in general, PLEASE take five seconds to sign this petition to get Haley to stop from cutting our funds. It honestly takes nothing more than a click of a button to help us out.
Please let South Carolina continue to be all that it can and has been. The arts are important. Without them the world would be dull and boring. Let us create music, cultivate the enormous talent and especially, give the kids a chance to be a part of something that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Something that they can be proud of.
Help us out. Click on this link and stand up for something worth fighting for. With pride!
Sorry it took so long to answer this. In the moment, when they come off stage, just tell them that they did great and that you look forward to the next private lesson to talk about it further. I would ask them how they felt about it. Typically, they know what they did wrong, but maybe not everything or to what extent. Just be gentile about it and have them play through the piece. Point out problems that were nerves and problems that are deeper. Just let them know that they need to work on it and practice. Rule of thumb: never criminalize a student’s mistake. Musicians make mistakes for a reason. It means that our ears are trying to tell us one thing and the composer is telling us another. The answer to mistakes lies in the music. Analyze the score with them and discover with your student why they made a mistake. To quote my choir director, “It’s not because you’re pathetic and stupid, is it?” No, mistakes allow a student to discover something about themselves and about the music.
I hope this helps and isn’t too late. And my word isn’t law, just opinion. Check back for any updates from the think-tank. :)
-Nick
Rachmaninoff
Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31
XIV. Otche nash / Our Father (“The Lord’s Prayer”)Russian State Symphony Cappella
(photo by fusion-of-horizons)
I had the pleasure to perform with this choir. We did a masterclass together. Fine musicians, but they’re a little gruff. The conductor was funny, though, in a very stoic way.
IT’S OVER NINE THOUSAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can’t tell what it best for you. If I could, I would. I unfortunately don’t know anything about this school in particular, but I saw that they have plenty to offer as far as a music department goes. It seems worth checking out. My advice is to go and visit the campus and talk with the students. See if the school of music has a spend-a-day program. It’s the best way to tell if a school is for you. For me, I shadowed a music major for a day and got to see what it was all like. I fell in love with everything and I felt like this school was perfect for me. I’m entering my senior year and I still feel like it’s home. Once you find a place that feels like home, do what you can to make it work for you. It’ll pay off in the long run.
-Nick
I always say this cheesy cliche: follow your heart. Seriously, do it. The best advice I received while deciding on a major was to do what made me happiest. Read the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It helped me a lot. My father did not want me to major in music because he said that there were no jobs. I told him tough titties because it was what I wanted to do. Now, I am at a school that felt right to me when I visited (and it still does) and I am pursuing a major that makes me happy. Physics or business would have killed me inside. So, I think you should follow your heart and do what will make you happiest. Money can always be made somewhere, somehow. It may mean that you have to move out of state to get a teaching job. I hope this helps you and keep us updated on your journey. Check back for more updates as fellow followers may add their 2 cents.
-Nick
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I would like to hear and see peoples ideas on Kodaly. I’m Australian and it is VERY strong in my state and I’ve been lucky enough to work closely with a few high profile people. However I guess my question is what do the masses think about it? Also how does it work in the States and other places?
Also if you teach it I’m after lesson ideas or how you incorporate the teaching in class.
I also wouldn’t mind hearing from other methodologies and links on where to gain this information.
My two blogs:
http://niceisdifferentfromgood.tumblr.com/ - random stuff
http://theadventuresofamuso.wordpress.com/ - Music Education Blog
TubaChick
