Monday, March 21, 2016

Responsibility in band: Part 1

One of the problems that commonly occurs in band class is that students will forget to bring an instrument and music folder to class. Either the teacher must provide the student with an instrument and music (if one is available, which still takes up everyone else's time), or the student will have to sit for the period with nothing to do. Both of these situations are win-lose, so here is another alternative.

Band students need to learn how to be responsible. Sometimes it is necessary to take the instrument and music home to practice, so like everything else about classroom procedures, this should be practiced until the students are proficient. In other words, the students need to pratice taking their instruments and music home and bringing them back for the next rehearsal.

This begins with an assignment: all students must take their instruments and music folders home. Then the teacher must observe, at the end of the day, whether or not all of the instruments and folders have been taken. Next, the students must all bring their instruments and music back for the following rehearsal. This is much easier, as students who do not come prepared will be obvious. When all students are able to complete this assignment, the students no longer have to take their instruments and music home. Here is the catch: if a student forgets to bring his instrument home, or if he forgets to bring it to the subsequent rehearsal, all students must continue the assignment until all members of the class are able to follow the instructions. Also, if at some point throughout the year a student is unprepared (or perhaps leaves his music or instrument out), the task is reassigned to the entire class. This focuses not only on responsibilty, but also incorporates teamwork, because the students will be motivated to remind their classmates of their responsibilities.

Update: Some students are no longer trying to bring their instruments home. Many more students turned in their weekly practice slip, but getting that 100% seems to be unrealistic. Is there a way to modify this responsibility assignment? For example, separate the group by grade level or instruments and have a competition to see who can reach 100% first. Perhaps keeping a list and checking off a student's name once they have returned their instrument? (Although this contradicts the purpose of being responsible as a class - the teamwork side of playing music.) Finally, as a last resort I might have to punish students who do not show any effort to bring home their instruments.

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