Front page
Presidents' Reports
Featured Author
Folk Dance
Recorders
Pearls of Wisdom
OAKE Session Review
Final Thoughts

Pearls of Wisdom

_____________________________________________________________________________

Here are some quotes that were collected from TMEA and OAKE conference.

TMEA Convention, February 14-16, 2008 in San Antonio, Texas:

Kerri Lynn Nichols

on over-teaching

"They won't learn to do unless they make mistakes and fix them themselves."

Rhona Brink

"If it's quality music and the children are enjoying it, it's Kodály."

Sister Lorna - Silver Lake

"Don't let your kids sing out of tune when they sing in parts. It is defeating the purpose."

"Don't do a lot of cutesy things. It has to tie into the sequence."

Marianna Parnas Simpson - Parker Elementary School

"I strongly believe you can develop a good choir even if you have only 30 minutes a week."

"Don't sing loud. Love what you sing."

submitted by: Katherine Johns, KET Vice President

                          Floresville, Texas

_____________________________________________________________________

OAKE Convention, March 27-29, 2008 in Denver, Colorado:

From Lillie Feierabend:
Music Teacher, University of Hartford Magnet School
 
When telling a class what they'll do next time...
"Be careful what you promise."
 
On facilitation...
"Giving more tries is not facilitating."
"Listen FOR, pay attention TO, raise your hand WHEN, etc."
 
On children...
"They are perfect.  They give you what you give them."
 
On classroom management...
"Be proactive, not reactive."
"Don't be afraid of silence."
 
On music teaching...
"We are GLOBAL educators!"
 
From Ruth Dwyer:
Associate Director of Indianapolis Children's Choir
 
On sightreading...
"Sight reading is about leadership.  If I make a mistake, it will be a loud mistake."
 

Submitted by:  

Tina Arenas - North Texas Representative
W.S. Ryan Elementary
Denton, TX

Jill Trinka said the following pertaining to the analysis of folk song material:

“If you can’t get into it (folk song material), you can’t get anything out of it.”

 

Ed Bolkovac said the following pertaining to conducting gestures:

“Elicit sound without talking about it.”

 

Ed Bolkovac said the following pertaining to feedback during conducting class:

“Discuss “it” (conducting), not the person.”

 

Ed Bolkovac said the following pertaining to score preparation:

“Visualize where the sound is coming from.”

 

Warm-up from Ruth Dwyer:

d   r    m  f    s    f    m   r     d

Super duper double bubble gum

 

To build Perfect 5th add the following while “do” is sustained:

d  r     m   f      s

Super bubble gum

 

To build Major Triad add the following while “do” and “so” is sustained:

d  r    m   f      s  -  m

Super bubble gum

Submitted by: Mary Neeley Stevens - KET Secretary

Ruth Dwyer:  She has all her choirs repeat this after her, " Sight-singing is about leadership.  If I make a mistake, I'll make a loud one."  She also said," All kids must sing uniform vowels, or there will always be clash."

Submitted by: Debra Johnson