Michael Lancette

This evening I went to an art showing of the works of Micheal Lancette. He is a graduate of Mercer University in Macon. The presentation was at the Tula Galleries on Bennett Street in Buckhead. It was well attended. Michael is a member of my church and he has been planning this show for some time. His works seems to be based on video and comic characters with fantasy icons. The art he displayed seemed to be based on Avatar for one and various characters in action comics. His choice of colors are bright and warm. The pictures show peace and tranquility using fairy type personalities in trees looking on as dangerous elements invade the atmosphere. I won't try to critique any further but I think he has a talent that can go further than the comic book style to something that could be unique in time.

National Association of Negro Musicians

As always the summer is moving along rather fast, no matter how long I stay up. I am in the process of getting ready to go to the National Association of Negro Musicians in Colorado Springs. It is an annual event and try to make it each year. The Associations encourage young minority artists to play and learn about the various genres of music open to them. There is an opening ceremony on Sunday afternoon and a scholarship contest that evening. The area of concentration is piano. The areas change each year; winds, strings, organ. and piano.
On Monday the workshops begin and various young students come and entertain the participants throughout the day and the three day conference. The featured artist will be Diane Reeves. There will be an opera premiere, workshops on conducting, and the spiritual along with a banquet and closing concert on Wednesday.
I try to attend this event each year. There is a lot of history from meeting people like William Warfield, Shirley Varrett, and Jester Hairston to name a few. The main purpose of the Convention is to keep and promote the music of the African American experience in America and throughout the world. Based on what I learned in the class these last few months, I hope to introduce more culturally diverse music in programs and try to play more music on as many programs as possible.

SUMMERTIME

It has been some time since I have written a blog. I just finished my portfolio and was glad to have that done and hopefully done correctly.
I know that school is out but that does not mean I don't think about education. I do have a student that I work with on the violin. She is very interested in playing and she takes everything suggestion and technique I say as gospel. This keeps me on my toes as it were. She will be going to middle school next year in Fulton County. She plays very well and her brother is learning the piano. I am teaching him some basics for now until he is ready for a real piano teacher.
Once you have taken this class, it is hard not to think about the images that come to you mind when listening to the radio and tv. It seems that everyone has read A Whole New Mind and want to pattern there products and delivery based on the six senses. I'm even trying to work them in my church participation and programs. Some of the advertisements have been geared to those concepts especially the auto industry. Some of them are good and some bad in my opinion. If it sells, I guess it works.

Wendell P. Whalum Community Chorus

Spring Concert

2010

The concert was held on Sunday, April 25, 2010 at the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel at 7:00p.m. The Community Chorus was founded by Dr. Wendell P. Whalum in 1966. The original purpose of the chorus was to provide music for the commencement of the Atlanta University Summer School. From the yearly success of the chorus Dr. Whalum took the opportunity to see if this could be an ongoing choral event. The chorus was originally named the Atlanta University Community Chorus. It remained so until after the passing of Dr. Whalum in 1985. After his passing Dr. David Morrow took the directoral duties of the chorus and from his urging renamed the chorus after his mentor.
Dr. David Morrow has had and extensive career in choral music. He has lectured, taught and performed with Morehouse Glee Club throughout the United States and on the world stage. With his leadership the chorus performed at the 30th anniversary of the Brazeal Dennard Choral Ensemble in Detroit, and the R. Nathaniel Dett 125th Birthday Celebration and Choral Festival in Chattanooga.

Descriptive:

The chorus is made up of 50 members throughout the metro area who enjoy singing. The concert was held in the King Chapel Auditorium. The seating and accoustics of this facility has been said by members of the musical community to be one of the finest in Atlanta.

Analytic:

The program consisted of a diversity of music from classical to jazz and spirituals to gospel.
The program was divided into four sections. The first consisting of contemporary and classical choral works by Gerhard Krapf: Awake My Heart With Gladness; Ralph Manuel's: Alleluia; and Adrian Ford's composition: Who Is He. The second section were spirituals; In Dat Great Giddin' Up Mo'nin' arr. by Rosephanye Powell and I Want To Die Easy: by Roland Carter. The third section was Hymn of Our Time by John Ness Beck and Hallelujah To The Highest Praise by Anthony Pattin. The last section and piece was Ellintonia a jazz composition of the music of Duke Ellington
I have been a member of this organization almost from the beginning. I've learned from Dr. Whalum and Dr. Morrow the inportance of diversity to keep an audience involved. I try to teach my students music that they can play based on their abilty and music that is interesting whether it be classical or rock. When comparing my style ot the selections presented, I try to incorporate these elements with my students. I can definitely draw relationships to those elements in the Daniel Pink whereas Design would be the types of music chosen, symphony would be the connection of the music to the program. Drama is created by the lyrics and solo in "I Want To Die Easy" emphathy in the prayerful tune and lyrics from Ecclesiastes:Chapter3 and play which draws the audience into the jazzy tunes of Duke Ellington.

Reflective:

Listening to this or any concert should make us aware of what we strive for when we perform with others or conduct our groups. In this concert Dr. Morrow wants us to look up and watch him and follow him, be mindful of our diction which is crucial when people are listening to the words we say. An audience can hear an entire diffferent phrase by not placing a consonant at the end of a word. As for my students I want them to be able to listen to each other and to be able to hear correct intonation and a good sound not just from their own playing but from the group as a whole.
Throughout the performance the one aspect that I brought away from the concert was unity in sound. I guess that would be symphony. I want the students to sound as a unit when they perform. As for Play: I want them to enjoy the music they are performing.

Question:

1. How long have you been singing
2 When did start to sing
3. How do you choose your music
4. How do you write music
5. Do you play an instrument
6. How long did it take you to learn how to sing
7. Does you whole family sing
8. Where did you go to school
9. Who taught you how to conduct
10. What is a spiritual
11. What is an anthem
12. Who was Duke Ellington
13. Where did he go to school
14. Does you group play with instruments
15. Are the members of the choir professionals
16. What is your favorite music
17. Who is you favorite composer
18. How can I learn how to sing like that
19 Do you perform at schools
20. Do you perform as churhes.

School's out

It has been some time since I have blog. Now that school is out I will be concentration on the summer and having a good time. I still have some work to do on my portfolio. I plan to finish it this week and turn it in. I do not how well I've done, but I think that I have completed it as best I can and placed information that I hope to be relevant to what I learned in the class. As much I want to enjoy myself this summer and try to take my mind off of school, there will always be various events that will get me to think about some of the lessons I learned in the class.
The BP oil spill has brought many of the senses that Daniel Pink wrote about. Drama of the spill itself, the emphathy for the people involved, symphony of working or not working to complete the capping of the well. There is no way to get around what we have learned in the class. I guess now I will focus on how the company will try and recover from this devestation and develope ways to renew people's trust.
The types of commercials and public relations that will be used to get themselves back on track will be interesting to see. While traveling to and from Savannah this weekend, I couldn't help notice all the BP signs at differents exits. When I did stop for gas I noticed the empty BP stations. Emphaty played also in the fact that those people working for the company have to be unwilling part of the blame game.

Intonation

Today my students were videoed working on the open strings of their violins. Basicially I wanted to secure some of the findings on my action research. The students worked on the d and a strings and eventually I added the first and second fingers on the d and a. I tried placing their fingers in the right position and verbally directing their positions. Some of performed well placing their fingers in the right place even without the tape. Next year I want to use various techniques to try and develope intonation with the beginners. I feel with some thought and innovation and suggestions from my collegues, we can get students to play in tune on the elementary level leading on to the middle and high school level. One more event I would like to mention. I listened to the kindergarten students at D.H. Stanton sing the songs " Lean On Me" and " I Believe I Can Fly" the sound quality and intonation was excellent. Mr. Strictland had them sounding better than some fifth grade choruses. This only confirms my belief that students can learn intonation in the elementary level.

Thursday I attended the first rehearsal for the 2nd annual String Fling. The rehearsal was well attended for the first rehearsal. I was glad to see some of my parents and students there. Ms. Kane conducted the rehearsal and I along with my students learn a lot from her teaching technique. Bowing, intonation, dynamics were stressed and I was able to emphazsize each one during my lesson the following day. The students went through the scale using the round and we talked about and played dynamics on our instruments. It was a very interesting rehearsal. I will end my post for now. My computer battery is low and I do not want to loose this post

Today I was able to work with my students for the upcoming String Fling coming in May. the students at Thomasville have come a long was for the first year. They are eager to play. I have become more aware of intonation with my students and I am using some techniques Dr. Rensburg suggested in my lessons. Some of the students are placing their fingers in the correct tape and area of the fingerboard without corrections from me. Also behavior and confidence is increasing. Next year will bring new changes throughout the system in regard to the overall curriculum. I will have to see how all this will affect music in general.

As far as my research is concerned, I think I have some results that will help me next year. I plan to start as soon as possible and get my students playing and listening more.

Class Musical Project

I have just listened to the recording we made last Saturday. It was very interesting and dynamic. After listening I commented that it was already long enough for me and basically making it any longer we would have to turn it into a full compostion. The ideas and sounds we incorporated for this piece come together dramatically. It reminded me of the music from 2001 Space Odyssey.

As for my action research, I think it is coming together. Following Dr Rensburg suggestions not to get too complex in my research. This research project will give me something to consider for next year.

I enjoyed yesterday's classes very much. Mrs. Terry introduction was very informative. I know the class is a lot of work and time but I am now just beginning to see some things that can help me not only in my string classes but with the community band, chorus and church. I am seeing some things that can make me a better musician even after all these years. After reading these two books there I can see what needs to be done in the arts to make in workable in the schools and community. This is more than just a class and it is not like a class is some respects. We have ownership is the success of this project.

The session with Dr. Rensburg was a good hour or more but it was still too short. We were able to get a handle on the action research project. I myself was rather nervous about the direction I was heading and if what I was doing had any validty. With the help of Dr. Rensburg and members of the class, I was able see clearly the direction I needed to go to complete my project. In any case I will be posting my results and seeking further comments. The second session with Mrs. Colbert is now pretty much in completion for our class project. We worked out our basic ideas for our composition so we are now ready for the completion. Writing down our ideas and having them visualized in music is exciting. You could see the interaction and reaction during the preparation and after the performance. This is something that can be done in the classroon to enhance the arts in the schools. I enjoyed yesterday's class.

Thank goodness for spring break. It is Wednesday and the week is halfway over. I made a video of my class lesson the week before. I used my beginning class for my video. There were some methods I wanted to use with the students to see if they would work. I used my brother's video camera and I need to copy it on to a DVD when I get back. I am still compiling the data on my research. The research is not extensive but I hope it will show some valid conclusion based on the topic I chose.

The students are working on the music for the String Fling. I am having each student write the names of the notes to make sure they know what they are playing. I do have some who could play in the middle school orchestra. When I return I will try and get them ready for that music. They seem excited and ready to play. The String Fling is a great diversion from the routine of getting ready for this test. They definitely need an outlet from what is going these days. Everyone seems to be cautious about the upcoming CRCT. I will be glad when this is over.

Our class yesterday on the 14th of March was very productive. I need to start Monday on my project and video. I think the classes are coming together and that as cohort 2 we will make a difference. I know that I will be working on my research and asking a lot of questions to make sure I am doing it right. I am researching intonation with my children. I want to see if I can come up with some techniques that will get my students to listen more when they play. That is one of my main goals when attending festivals is to make sure their fingers are playing the correct sound. As for the final project, we plan to do a combined class project composition. We threw out some ideas to consider and hopefully put music to our work next month.

Finally the online video and audio connection will be a great addition to the class. I will try out the headphones I have and the microphone as well. My computer does have a camera so that is an added convience. In closing I must say I am learning a lot and hopefully making a difference with this project. Also I look forward to going to Washington in May. I do not know what the agenda will be but I do have some things I want to accomplice.

Last week was LGPE for elementary and middle school string orchestras. We were scheduled to perform on last Wednesday at 6:50 pm. The problem was the weather the day before. The time for our performance would be delayed two hours. Based on my timing, my 2nd, thru 5th grade students would have gotten back to school at 10:00 pm. In any case, I called to cancel. I mentioned this to say that I feel my students were ready to play. This year I would have incorporated my 2nd graders who have been with me since kindergarten. They were excited along with their parents. I am getting a lot of notice and positive feedback, support and encouragement from my parents. I want to build on that for the rest of this year and the beginning of the next. The String Fling musical in the spring will be a good time for all the string teachers to parade their work to the parents in APS and promote the program hopefully to stem the tide of cutbacks due to the financial crunch.

Recruitment will be the focus for the remaining school term. I have the support of my principals and parents and I want to create new ways of promoting music and the arts in the schools. With all the testing and reforms taking away from the arts in the schools we are going to have to do more than just perform at PTA's and Holiday programs. I want to find ways to get the entire school thinking about music throughout the day. We have talked about integrating arts into the curriculum, but I see that more is needed. The parents are the key to what we need. Which brings me to my violist. I have a 4th grade viola students who is behind in his work. He has already been kept back and I think he will be kept back again. The only thing he wants to do is to play the viola. He is a good viola player and I think he will stick with it throughout high school. His mother wants him to play the viola, but she seems not too interested in his classroom work. I am thinking that music may be the key to turing him around. This creates a problem for me. I want him incorporate music and homework together. I don't know what the future hold for the young man. I might have a great violist hidden behind all of the bad grades. This reminds me of the movie with Sandra Bulloch. Maybe I will have to intervene in some way.

Today is the first of my two day break from school. I need break to help me get ready for the LGPE on the third of March. The students are excited. Most of them have never been to one and I feel it will be a great experience for them. I am focusing on presentation as well as the music aspect. I want the students to do the best they can and I feel they will. I want them to look uniform with their outfits and in their performance. My principal at Thomasville said he wants to attend and I will try get the other prinicipals to come as well.

Most of the students going are first year students and I think they have done well with the music they have learned. So far this has been a good year. I am busy but relaxed through it all. By the end of the year I hope to send some good students on to middle school. I just hope they stay with the program and not get bogged down with other classes and activites. Tomorrow I will begin getting their uniforms and music together. This two day break was a good idea.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday I attended the GMEA Conference in Savannah. I make it my annual pilgirmage to relaxation and getting a fresh start. It seems that were not as many workshops as in the past. Some of the ones I attended were very interesting. Each class related specific area in my schools. One clinician emphasized the importance of ensembles in instrumental music. I sometimes have my better students play either solos or duets for programs. This approach has a definite effect on other students wanting to play solos. I feel his main point was that we or I should incorporate as many students to do the same, not to restrict participation. The other class dealt with reeds and mouthpieces. The relation to the first class was that in choosing a mouthpiece for your students in the band, do not start with you best students(1st and 2nd) but start with the 3rd and work your way up. It could be the mouthpiece that is keeping them in the third section. He gave examples of students moving from 3rd to the the first clarinet based on the changing of the mouthpiece. I think I will incorporate this concept with my violin students. Checking bows, shoulder rests to help move my slower students along.

The other two classes dealt with new piano music and a new instrumental music book coming out this spring. The important aspect about the book is that you can personalize it and add you own teaching ideas to the finish product. In any case the presentation concept dealt with the style and look of the book. I think what got my attention and others is that we can place our school on the cover. I think we are all looking forward to this new edition. If you are really into music education this conference and others is always a good way to learn more about how you relate to students and how important we are to the whole student and school. I met new people there and some who are taking this Saturday class. They wanted to know when the next class will be and are we going to make up the one we miss.

Tuesday January 26,2o1o

It has been some time since I have written anything about music or teaching. There has been a lot of activities going since school opened back up. We moved back into the new Dunbar Elementary school. The music staff has pretty much gotten our area in some working order. The room is spacious. The students are still very excited about being in the new school. I guess the newness has not worn off yet. As I mention in my last blog, I wanted to use the new atmosphere to get the students more excited about the music they are playing. I have some 2nd graders who are getting more comfortable with their instrument, the fingering, bowing and posture. More students in their grade level are asking to be in the orchestra. The teachers are cooperative there as well. All last week I made a point of passing around the judges comments from last year's LGPE. I pointed out the scoring procedure, the difference in the judges comments and what we need to work on. This was a very good move on my part. I was able to make them understand what I have be saying based on three other persons. So when I made a comment, they would reflect on what the other judges wrote. I took this revelation to the other schools it is working well. It does help them focus more.

I am on my way to Savannah in the morning. I find it is always good to get away and see, hear and learn what others around the state are doing.

Today was test day for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students. I was able to work with my students in the afternoon and get ready for upcoming programs. Some of the student were having a hard time with one piece and after some trial and error they were able to play the piece with relative ease. I tried some classroom techniques and asked them to give me one word that would sum up what they feel about themselves in relation to the piece they just played. The word I was looking for was confidence. I could see the positive reaction when I said the word. I want to try this again with my other students and see how it works. Although I have to make sure that my teaching methods will receive the same results.

I am finding now that there is a more urgent need to do well on these upcoming tests. The music teacher and PE teacher are facing schedule changes based on administrative urgency to pass and test and it is disrupting their class routine. I think these areas need to maintained and not disrupted to help stimulate the students minds in areas other than acedemics that would ultimately help with successful testing. The front office is minimizing the importance of the arts in that respect.