McKenna Terry

Kanab Utah

Music Education, Secondary Instrumental Emphasis

Leadership

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Leading in the CMS Band Program

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For my project, I volunteered at Cedar Middle School in their Band Program. This band program is like a well oiled machine, the band directors, Allen Lee and David Palmer have a very strong program with over a hundred students. As a future band director myself, I decided to go to the middle school two days a week and spend time in their classrooms. I assisted the J.V. and Concert Band with their music assignments through Smartmusic checking on their progress and showing them ways to improve as well as running sectionals and working individually with the Percussion Ensemble and Symphonic Band woodwind section. I also dealt with classroom management things, insuring that the students were always on task.

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Another huge part of my project was leading and conducting the ensembles. I was given the opportunity to conduct several pieces with the Symphonic and Concert Band in their rehearsals and ultimately their concerts. Going to the middle school taught me many important skills that will benefit me as a teacher in the coming years. Working at the middle school gave me experience teaching, conducting, managing a classroom as well as learning to connect and bond with students.

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I have always had a love for music, and more importantly inspiring the love of music in others. I’ve found this through my own performing but especially in helping students find joy in music. This is what inspired me to study music education. The music education degree however, can be very demanding and at times it’s hard to remember your purpose. I realized early on in my education that in order for me to really make the most of my education and have the desire to continue with this degree I would need to get out into the classrooms. I always have made a point to volunteer in the local classrooms and this project just stood out to be as being the perfect way to continue this in my professional preparation.

 

As stated previously, my degree can be very demanding. By pursuing music education it is almost inevitably a double major between the education and the music. Giving up so much of my time during the week to go to the middle school proved to be difficult when I would have commitments elsewhere. However I made the commitment early on to always put this first, and rearrange my time accordingly. I remember a specific day when I had a test to study for and many assignments due and thought there was no way I would be able to make it to a concert. I reminded myself however of my commitment not only to myself but more importantly the students. I went to the concert and had an amazing experience leading the band.

 

Another challenge with going to the middle school was gaining the trust of the students and earning their respect. It can be hard for young students to adjust to new mentors and as I was only there twice a week and not every day it took time for me to gain that relationship with the students. They wouldn’t take me seriously sometimes when I would tell them what they should be doing or would sometimes misbehave even more. It took time to develop the appropriate role in the classroom for students to understand and follow my instruction. I found that it is often just something you have to demand from students, showing them you mean business but that it is in their best interest. Finally achieving this was very rewarding.

 

One experience that always stands out to me from the middle school was my interactions with a young girl named Daniella. Daniella, originally from Mexico, had a unique challenge in the classroom to keep up with the other students as well as to fit in. As English is her second language, she would struggle communicating and understanding how to play her instrument, clarinet. As a spanish speaker myself, and clarinetist, I feel I was placed in the right place at the right time to make a difference for this student. At first, it was hard for her to trust me. I came in at a moment when she was especially frustrated and seemed on the brinks of giving up. As she began to see my commitment to her success and we began working together, I soon saw a change in her. She was now more and more excited to be in class and by the end of the year she was in line to play in the high school band! Seeing that progress in her first hand was a moment that solidified to me that this project and my career choice was exactly where I needed to be.

 

Upon completing this project, I knew it wouldn’t be the end. I continue today going to the middle school and working with the students. I am so grateful for the opportunity to see the progress and developments the students made throughout my time there. I also am very grateful for all I’ve learned. I am now more confident going into my student teaching and taking on more teaching responsibilities as a result of this project. I also learned a lot of important things about myself as a teacher, and the ways that I want to establish and run my own future classroom. Throughout my career I will be able to reflect back on this project and continue to learn from it.

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"I'm just so glad I get the chance to go and work at the middle school. It is preparing me so much for my future as a band director and I love every minute."