Intonation: Two overall aspects each student needs to learn to play in-tune. 1. Every student needs to know how to adjust the pitch of their instrument including with a tuning slide, alternate fingerings, adjustments with embouchure and the natural pitch tendencies of their instrument.
2. Every student needs to learn to listen and match pitches. Hybrid and Online: All exercises have MP3 tracks to practice and share in any teaching situation. Tuners: a great tool but not a be-all end-all.If you read online you will read two ways to teach intonation. Give everyone in your band a tuner and a clip on mic and they will learn how to play in-tune. Have them use it everyday constantly checking pitch. The opposite are the directors who tell you to never use a tuner because it gives the kids a crutch, they will be able to play in-tune with a tuner but not at any other time.
We need to be flexible as teachers and try many different ways to teach a subject. I strongly believe there are no exact ways to teach pedagogy but we need to find what works for us and our students at the time. I find too many teachers that say this is the only way to do something. Yet another teacher will swear that the opposite is the only way. I am going to offer a few that work for me. Teach kids to listen not just hear.Maybe your students are better than mine. If I ask mine to listen, that is the moment they turn off their brains and stop paying attention, just like they do to their parents. Try a different word that perhaps they do not already hear from parent's or other teachers all of the time.
be attentive concentrate on concentrate on hearing give ear to lend an ear to My own children and students are all the same they learn to turn my voice off and ignore me. They have selective hearing. The same goes when they are playing. You need to help them change their mindset, to hang onto the wonderful gems you are trying to teach them. BIE and Chorales teaching method |
What are Band Directors saying about BIE and Chorales?"I purchased a bunch of your stuff last year & I love it."
Jeff Canter, Thorne Middle School, President All Shore Intermediate Band Directors Assoc. "I bought them about a year ago, They are Fantastic!"
Geoff Despain, Eastern Arizona College as posted on BDG Facebook Page "The approach is simplistic in it's delivery, concise, student led/driven, and very teachable - even to the most novice. If you are looking for a great, practical, teachable way to have your bands play more in tune - I would highly suggest looking at this resource!"
Josh Bartz, Portage Northern High School as posted on BDG Facebook Page |
What are Band Directors saying about BIE and Chorales?"Band directors do not have time NOT to teach intonation."
|
Listening and adjusting to the pitches they hear.The more I talk about intonation the less my students listen. The more we practice intonation the less they listen. They need something to help them actively learn without tuning you out. This is the exact reason I developed Band Intonation Exercises and Band Intonation Chorales. I wanted a way to talk less and teach more. I play the recording for them and have them sing the pitches the first time, play the pitches the second time, and on the third time they play independently without their pitches on the recording. This helps you hear how they did, without the recording covering for them. Watch this video to see how BIE works.
Once students start listening and adjusting then what? The one way I was taught in college to teach intonation was through chorales. I was very dutiful about teaching chorales. My band would play them everyday. We played them in every key.
The issue I have, when there was a problem it took too long to resolve, killed my rehearsal pacing and was ineffective. I lost the kids and too much rehearsal time. I needed a way to do it quick, fun and effective. Thus I wrote Band Intonation Chorales (BIC). I wanted short chorales that students could learn how to tune while they played. I wanted comments in their music to show them their common problems for their instrument so I did not have to try to remember them and they could learn them faster. In all major keys there are 11 of the same chorales so no matter what key you practice it in they should sound the same. Also in all 12 minor keys there are 11 chorales. I want to teach everything quicker so my students can have more fun on real music. If they have fun my job is easier because they want to come back every year and continue in band. Brian Thompson, Sevier Band & Percussion |
