From Football to the Music Room

Lessons to be taken from the Patriots AFC Championship win:

Never give up, even in the face of obstacles
The Patriots body language on the sidelines is always fascinating. They get frustrated - Belichick swore and threw the tablet - but they never counted themselves out. Even when the Chiefs were up, they were in the game, encouraging their team, and trying to win.

Learning an instrument is hard. Maybe not pro football hard, but difficult and frustrating and sometimes it seems like a certain note or skill will never, ever happen. And yet with enough time, effort, and ragged determination, it happens.

Life isn't fair, play on
There were some horrible officiating calls in the game. Things aren't always just or fair or equal. Sometimes you get five less rehearsals because of snow days, sometimes your instrument's part is way harder than another's, sometimes you don't get that glockenspiel you were desperate to play. And yet we play on, we keep going, we keep trying in spite of whatever circumstances are thrown our way.

Practice hard, but have fun
Sports and music both take focused practice and effort. Improving skills, whether in football or music, requires work. Whether it's a football play or a musical scale, doing the same thing 100 times takes determination and tenacity. Doing the same thing 100 times and improving each time takes effective effort and self-awareness. Those who work hard can always get ahead.

Among all that hard work, find joy and levity. Tom Brady's look of joy after that trick play (that didn't work) or a fifth grader's laugher after figuring out Baby Shark both show the fun and rewards of trying hard. There can be moments of levity amongst hard work and practice, in fact there need to be in order to keep things moving forwards.

Champions win before they're on the field
It's all about preparation. The concert isn't where kids learn music. The Super Bowl isn't where the Patriots get good at football. Success requires preparation and systematic improvement, not simply to show up for the big day. Confidence comes from preparation and practice, and confidence encourages excellent performance. It's not about being perfect, or never deviating from a strict script, but it's about knowing that you've practiced and prepared as much as possible and are able to excel in the situation.

I'll be back in the classroom smiling on Tuesday... and cheering on the Patriots in the Super Bowl!!!!

Sharing Files with Families with ClassTag

I use ClassTag for a lot of my home communication, and often use the file sharing feature to help give families the full story of what is going on. Whether it's concerts, sign-ups for another session of after school activities, or just encouraging students to practice, adding files offers teachers flexibility in how they use ClassTag. It could even be used to post homework. A file can be attached to any announcement, right from the announcement creation screen:

I typically use PDF files, since they open easily and look good on both mobile devices and computers, but ClassTag will let you add all sorts of files that students and their families might need. Flyers, photos, homework, or long messages could all be uploaded as a file and sent out to parents. This feature is unique to ClassTag, and lets teachers share more about their classroom than they might be able to in just text or photos. Need to make sure a notice is seen by parents and not lost in backpacks? A ClassTag announcement is the perfect way to get that information out to parents in a helpful, easy to use format.

ClassTag messages can be sent as email, SMS, or through the app with notifications depending on a parent's preferences. I try to have the "main idea" of my message in the text of an announcement, so parents looking quickly on a phone can get the gist without opening the file at that very moment. But it's great to have the option of sending more information for those who are interested or who need it. ClassTag lets families access the information in many different ways, giving them choices in communication.

If you want to sign up for ClassTag, you can sign up here with my referral link!

--I am a ClassTag ambassador. I receive ClassTag coins and referral incentives for sharing how I use ClassTag in my teaching, but really do believe in their service and think it's useful for teachers.

The Beginning and the End

My school district hosted our All-Districts music festival last Friday. Before I made my way over to the high school to help out and observe some master conductors at work with the best and brightest high school musicians in the area, I held a before-school beginning band rehearsal for our first concert. It went well, as I expected it to. The kids have been working hard in their group lessons, practicing at home, and taking risks to help them improve their playing. We're taking on the beginning band classics, Hot Cross Buns and Mary Had A Little Lamb, and playing We Will Rock You for a fun ending that's a bit more relevant to pop culture. Our two "harder" songs have four notes each. This is absolutely normal and developmentally appropriate for beginning band, given our rehearsal schedule and the age of the students.

The All-Districts band I got to watch, on the other hand, was playing dozens of notes. They took on some amazing rep, including Wagner's Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral and a very difficult Persichetti piece. The chorus, orchestra, percussion, and jazz ensemble were likewise grappling with challenging music, pieces which represent significant artistic achievement in their respective musical fields.

It's fascinating to see the differences in these two groups, and the similarities. "Breathe together to play together", a phrase my beginning band students have heard enough to finish for me, doesn't just apply to fifth graders. Students talked and laughed together during breaks, just as my students tend to do. They left instruments in precarious positions, just as my students do.

For many of the All-Districts students, they're at or near the pinnacle of their musical journeys - for some, even near the end - while my fifth graders are just beginning to understand and experience band. It's gratifying to see where they're going musically, that their potential in six or seven years includes more than five notes and making beautiful music together. But it's also helped me to see the beauty in simplicity, in getting students to play simple music really well. So much of the limited district rehearsal time was spent on fundamentals, things that my students are already working on. Playing a scale in tune is hard! It takes years of practice! But it's important, even if it's not immediately gratifying. Good beginnings are so important in music, so that students can excel when they get to All-Districts or just life beyond elementary school band. It's not about Hot Cross Buns, it's about building the skills to go beyond the basics later.