It’s Tuesday, March 24, 2020 and here we are in the middle of a pandemic. To help us get through this challenging time here are some thoughts and ideas.
In the words of composer Eric Stokes, “Music is a Social Art.” You know much of what we do as creative musicians is done in solitude; individual practicing, composing and for me as a conductor, score study. In fact, there is nothing better than a cup of coffee, a silent place and a score, this is where my musical imagination can run free as I work to ingest the music.
Yet with COVID-19 and our inability to gather, there is a void for all of us. Our feelings and experiences together in rehearsal rooms and on stages cannot be replicated. This absence has reminded me of the power and beauty of our art. I look forward to the time when we can once again be together in the celebration of life and music!
Episode Overview
(00:00)  Introduction to now
(05:01)  What can we do and what tools do we have?
(07:15)  Parker J. Palmer: The Courage to Teach
(09:33)  Teaching for independence: release of responsibility
(14:11)  This pause, purpose and listening
(16:42)  We can’t do it all through E-learning
(21:34)  Teaching students and parents how to practice
(29:30)  Learning your instrument better by teaching someone else
(31:30)  More technology…small steps
(34:34)  Take a deep breath
(35:17)  Reaching every student
(39:11)  Bus driver chat
(43:23)  Closing
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Other Resources
Show Hosts
Jerry Luckhardt   https://cla.umn.edu/about/directory/profile/luckh001
Bradley Mariska  https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-mariska-63ba2855
Parker J. Palmer, The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life
https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Teach-Exploring-Landscape-Anniversary/dp/1119413044
Smart Music, Zoom, Google Classroom, Flipgrid, Facetime, and many other distance/e-learning resources for Band Directors mentioned on this show can be easily accessed here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1bf9_IJPkt5VMKflkWIfnLW9OISjsFwva-W2sAYXdSFY
FB Website (Band in Minnesota)
www.facebook.com/BandinMinnesota