During my years in the classroom, I strived to teach responsible musicianship through all interactions with my students. For example, I required each student to play a series of instrument-specific warm-ups prior to rehearsing. This protocol included individual tuning, which was checked and signed off by section leaders. After that, we took attendance and away we went.
Because my students rehearsed before school, and because early-morning bus transportation was not provided by the district, I encountered a period of time when students would arrive late to rehearsal. Although implementing a step-wise system of consequences for each tardy brought about some change, I knew that there had to be a better way to teach responsibility AND musicianship at the same time.
Working with my co-director Mr. Jeff Jay, we came up with a pedagogically sound approach to promoting punctuality. To take attendance the musical way, consider what we did:
1. Establish a firm time in which students must be seated, warmed-up and tuned (personal tuner with clip-on mic). Have a pencil and attendance roster handy with names listed in score order.
2. Following score order, assign each student a number; first chair flute is 1, second chair flute is 2, etc.
3. Write a tempo term on the board along with its metronome marking. Set a metronome to that speed and turn it on for all to hear.
4. Give a downbeat to flute 1 who calls out her number. With each metronome click, the next musician calls out his or her number. If someone is absent, no number is heard and the absence is to be treated like a quarter rest. Follow along with your attendance chart and mark down each absence. Proceed until the last number is called.
5. If a student enters the room late, address them after rehearsal in private. Ask, “What happened?” and not “Why?” (You are more likely to get the truth.)
The above protocol fosters accountability while teaching tempo terms, tempo speeds, score order, and keeping time. And, it does so in one to two minutes. If you wish to make deeper connections with the music, utilize tempo terms found in the daily repertoire.
As you work with your students, remember that each moment is a gift not to be squandered. Use that gift wisely and come up with creative ways to teach responsible musicianship. Be fair, be firm, be flexible when appropriate, and have fun!
