The Evolving Educator

The Evolving Educator is a conglomeration of and repository for everything I’ve learned and created over the years…so far. As I evolve as an educator, so will this resource.

The site is written through the lens of a string music educator, yet there is much information that can benefit any educator or music educator.

My goal is to serve a wide gamut of teachers as I include not only my current tools but also previous incarnations and how they become what is useful now.

I also envision this site as a printed book and resource so if you know of any interested publishers, please let me know.
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Check out my bass blog, MostlyBass.com and home page, PeterTambroni.com.
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Need a clinician for your music faculty or students? Contact me for more information.
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Visit my online store.

Rhythm is the elementary level of mathematics in music.
The true examples lie in other areas such tuning and construction.

The latest edition of The Strad has a great article on the mathematics involved in just making the scroll. Click the picture to download a PDF of the article.

I am currently seeking funding for the next stage of my creation, the Rhythm Ruler. The Rhythm Ruler is a tool to teach students about rhythms. It displays inches and sixteenth, eighth, quarter, half, and whole notes. The back has a breakdown of eighth, quarter, and half note triplets.

I created the the Rhythm Ruler in 2006 after teaching note values to several 4th graders by relating note values to measurements. Most students are familiar with rulers and inches so I told them to think of a quarter note as one inch. I wrote 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & on the chalkboard and told them ‘1 &’ was an inch. They immediately grasped the concept and were able to place combinations of half, quarter, and eighth notes in bars with ease. I continued this with more classes – as did my colleague. Our success rate was impressive. I then decided to make the Rhythm Ruler.

The Rhythm Ruler is perfect for band, orchestra, chorus and classroom music students. Teaching note values in general music and classroom music classes to students without previous music experience is much easier with the Rhythm Ruler. Educators, conductors, and directors are constantly searching for better ways to teach rhythm and note values. In my 15 years of teaching I have tried many ways including using money, fractions, algebra, blocks, and food!

In 2007 I had a a shipment of Rhythm Rulers made through a local company (Schlenker Enterprises) that deals with custom products such as rulers. I began promoting and giving away rulers. Now it’s time to continue that momentum! However, as a music teacher I simply cannot afford to personally fund another fabrication and round of promotion.

That where Kickstarter comes in. Kickstarter is a funding platform focused on a broad spectrum of creative projects.

Please consider contributing to  The Rhythm Ruler, via Kickstarter.com.

A few months back a college music education interviewed me in regards to classroom discipline. Here it is!

Teacher’s Name: Peter Tambroni       School: Mannheim Middle School

Subject / Grade Taught: Currently – Orchestra, 3 – 8

Total number of years teaching experience: 15

Q: What are your classroom rules?

A:
1. Be Punctual
2. Be Prepared
3. Be Polite

Q. Did the students have any input in devising the rules? No.

A. How do you keep students “0n task”’ during class time”

A: Take the entire issue out of the equation! Plan the time and lessons so that there aren’t opportunities for issues. Actively engaged students are just that – engaged with the task at hand!

Q. What bas been the most severe discipline incident that you have encountered during your teaching? Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s an Ab scale for string orchestra with fingerings. I put the shifting dash in between notes so the students see it earlier and prepare for the shift.

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To be a more effective educator, remember that:

EMOTION drives ATTENTION drives LEARNING.

Yes, that’s right!

EMOTION->ATTENTION->LEARNING

Something all of us need to remember. Especially when OUR negative emotions are or tempers are running a bit hot.

Looking for a nice electric instrument at a reasonable price? I found these acoustic-electric 5 string violin/violas at the Electric Violin Shop. They sound great plugged in or not and are a nice backup instrument if a student forgets their instrument. Highly recommended.

As I was lying on a table at physical therapy for elbow (after surgery for tendonitis) yesterday, I noticed sports teams pennants hanging on the wall. And I thought what any musician who wants greater community involvement in the arts – Why don’t orchestras do more to build a loyal fan base? Sports teams have jerseys, pennants, mugs, and countless other pieces of kitsch, tchotchke, and paraphernalia. Why not us? Wouldn’t it build a community and sense of pride?

I just received a coupon from Lulu.com where I publish my book, “An Introduction to Double Bass Playing”.

They are offering 15% off everything in their store with coupon code “OKTOBERFEST305″. Hurry as it expires September 26, 2011.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/passiveaggressive/4773512458/in/photostream/

http://bancomicsans.com/

http://comicsanscriminal.com/

On page 30 of Essential Elements, upbeats or pickup notes are introduced. I have always had a difficult time teaching this to students but here are few things I’ve done over the years to help.

Write in the counting – 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4  and have the student work backwards to figure out what comes before 1.

Relate the pickup note to a prefix of words. Students in the fourth and fifth grades know what a prefix is and this make perfect sense – the song has a prefix and this ties in with their language arts class. The students immediately understand it.

I just want to say what a fan I am of the English journal, The Strad.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, I find it much more useful and worldly than our American String Teacher journal.

Need audio, video, computer, or other cables? Check out Monoprice.com for the lowest prices I’ve seen.

To set a positive tone for the start of the year I gave each student a little welcome back package.

-Of course, everyone gets a new folder – supplied by the local music store.
-Nicely printed labels with their name and graphics for their folder, music, and book.
-A CD with recordings of the music in their folder
-A little carabiner / clip keychain (just for fun!)

And so far everyone loves it! It immediately put everyone in a good mood and gave them an emotional attachment to their elective class (orchestra).

Welcome Back!!

As the new school year approaches it’s time to think of recruiting for the music program. Our orchestra program begins in 3rd grade and band starts in 4th grade. So we hang posters around the grade level hallways for kids to see that they now have a new opportunity. Of course I also do classroom presentations and we have a recruitment night where we talk with interested parents.

Here are some of the posters I created and hang on the walls at school.

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Click the thumbnail for a larger JPG.

Click here for a PDF version

As I start a new year I review my ongoing list that I keep during the year of things I want to change and update.

What do you want to change?

Some of my goals for this year:

-Listen to more music in rehearsals
-Play my instrument more more with students
-Automate technology so it becomes a normal part of the students learning workflow
-Staying consistent with my goals! I usually am good for a few months but then things slide so I want to work on keeping them active all year.

Educators, are there any materials you wish you had? I have lots of documents and such that I have created and wanted to see what other teachers need. Thanks!

Check out the music and arrangements I have for sale.

My book, “An Introduction to Double Bass Playing”, is available via iTunes, Lulu, and on my web store.

Richard Armandi, Chicago area bassist and teacher says this:

“An Introduction to Double Bass Playing” by Peter Tambroni is a wealth of information and just about covers all the ‘basses’ that a young or new player to the instrument would need to address. It’s thoughtfully put together, addressing all manner of technical issues, maintenance and care, choosing the right strings, bow, etc., and even has sections covering topics of vital use to teachers and parents. There are also internet sites suggested for all things Bass related. This book is the most complete resource of it’s kind for the aspiring Double Bassist, has become required material for my students, and I heartily recommend it!!! Thank You, Peter, for such a superb asset to the Double Bass canon!!”

As an instrumental conductor, I was always taught to use a baton. But for the past few years I have tried not using one. The response from the group? Difficult to measure, but I think they are slightly more responsive as my hands create a better and more authentic palette of gestures.

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You never when when a student is finally going to flourish. And persistence is key whether you are the student, teacher, or just aspiring to reach your life targets.

As an example, NPR recently did a story on boogie-woogie piano player, Pinetop Perkins, who at 95 years of age was nominated for a Grammy.

“The great irony of Pinetop’s career is that he didn’t blossom as a headliner until his eighth decade – a phenomenon that resulted in the release of 15 solo records in 15 years, beginning in 1992.”

From American String Teacher

Mouse pad…

Student: What’s that buzzing?

Me: My refrigerator.

Student: Sounds like a Bb. Why?

Me: Because of electricity and electric current.

Student: Electricity must like jazz.

“It is only when the mind is open and receptive that learning and seeing and change can occur.” Jon Kabat-Zinn