jL | In Practice - Watson ABCs

In the classroom - Watson ABCs: While I know many of you have turned to the final spring concerts, my ensemble is still working on the last few rehearsals of our UIL evaluation literature.  At this point, there are so many things going well that it is easy to get stuck in a rut of ‘Run it again.  Good…run it again.’  To avoid this, we utilize a couple of different strategies to keep ears open and the ensemble growing.  

One of my favorites was brought to me by the great Bill Watson many years ago; we just call it “Wind Ensemble ABC.”  To start, either predetermine or let the kids organize their section into A, B, & Cs (based on your level of control enthusiasm).  Small sections might repeat (for instance, your first oboe might be A & C) while larger sections might have more than one A (such as your 1st and 4th clarinet).  Once organized, have Wind Ensemble A perform a section that needs additional clarity while WE B & C listen.  Allow B & C to provide feedback and then have them perform again, then move on to the next group, etc.  With the right framing and a little coaching, I’m always extremely impressed with the depth of feedback the kids will provide their friends.  It is also a wonderful tool to isolate principal players for pitch, style, and articulation matching, etc. 

Behind the scenes - Leadership is Selfless Service: Easter weekend reminds me that true leadership is selfless service.  What backgrounds and experiences have you had that can make today just 1% better for someone else?  This time of year, it is easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of emotions, stressors, and to-do’s.  Work to keep just enough margin in the chaos to hold a door, ask about college plans, help with a musical passage they’re struggling with, etc.  While so many of our kids put on a strong ‘game face,’ often they are masking the anxiety that the end of the year can bring.  You may never know how impactful your small act of selflessness will be for them today, but do it anyway. 🙂