ME 111 Summative PDA Form Due 12/6/13 Submit through Canvas.

Name: Tyler Weakland Semester and year: Fall 2013 Submit after completion of 15 hours but no later than Dec 6. In order to receive PDA credit for your summer activity, you must provide me with a a) List of PDA experiences and associated hours. Conducting Institute 10 hours Vocal Institute 5 hours Middle School Vocal Institute 4 hours Church Choir Rehearsals 4 hours a week Accompanying Schola every day b) Summary of what you did and learned. Choose from the following questions and address the ones that are most relevant to your learning experiences. 1. If observing a group, describe the learners/participants (approximate age, grade) and setting (class, rehearsal, event, location, date, times). 2. What did you learn about teaching and learning, such as: What types of instructional practices were utilized (e.g., lecture, stories, movies, examples and non-examples, guided practice, independent practice, reading, discussion, visual, aural and kinesthetic modalities)? What did you learn about how to inspire and motivate? What did you learn about managing and communicating with a group (e.g., attendance, bathroom, pencil, folder)? 3. What did you learn about yourself (e.g., strengths, areas for growth, habits, personality traits, comfort zones)? 4. Describe any evidence of critical pedagogy. 5. How did you grow as a musician (e.g., new music, style, interpretation, personal musicianship)? 6. What did you learn about setting a student-led ensemble experience for success?

7. In summary, how did this experience (these experiences) contribute to you becoming a better music teacher?

-During Conducting Institute I accompanied for Bruce Chamberlain of the University of Arizona at Phoenix, Weston Noble and Vance George. Each class was a master class setting where student conductors got up and conducted the class and were critiqued by the guest conductors. I accompanied the different conductors on whatever piece they chose from the repertoire provided. It was very interesting to see the difference in style of conducting and consequently the difference in the choirs sound. This was even more evident when the student conductors got in front of the group. Some knew what they were doing and others had no clue, and it came across in the sound of the choir. The lesson here is that gesture and charisma make a big difference in the sound. I also learned that as a teacher, you must know how to articulate exactly what you are thinking because this makes a difference in how your students will understand and translate what you said in their own mind. I grew as both an accompanist and conductor, even though I wasnt conductor. I learn a lot from watching and I pick up things quickly from watching, such as gesture techniques and ways to encourage sound. I was reminded that I must always play with beautiful musicality, even when sight-reading and even when playing the same passage many times. -I also accompanied the Mens Choir for VI and a voice class. I learned many of the same things I did at Conducting Institute, but honestly this experience was not as enriching. However, for Middle School VI, I taught a piano lab course. I had beginning students who really had never played piano and I was to teach them the basics. So I taught five-finger patterns, note reading, rhythm reading, and easy piano pieces. Many of these students were not able to locate middle C before the course, but after it was over they all were able to play a five-finger pattern in C. They were also able to play several simple piano pieces. I had a group of about 12 and it was a challenge to meet every childs needs at the level they were because they were all at different levels. Some were able to catch on very easily and others had a difficult time. I had to manage my class time so that I attended to each student and helped them progress. I learned a lot about how to motivate and how to encourage the students to take ownership of what they were learning. When they achieved a task I congratulated them but didnt let them stop. Once they finished learning one piece, I immediately gave them another and this was very much incentive for them because someone would finish one song and get another and the others would want the new song but they had to finish the first one so they worked quicker. It was also great to see the students helping each other. Once I taught someone something and another student had the same problem, the child I taught first was able to help. This experience was extremely valuable in teaching me how to meet childrens needs in a classroom, when everyone is at different levels. This is a very relevant challenge in todays music classroom and Im lucky to have experienced it now.

-I will simply say that I learn so much from accompanying Schola and watching Dr. Jordan work. The biggest challenge was learning to read his mind. -I am the Choir Director at the First Presbyterian Church of Hamilton Square where I direct four choirs, two adult and two children. The biggest challenge here is teaching to those who cant read music or understand the musical language. I learned, and still am learning, how to bring directions and musical gesture to their level. I am still trying to get into their mind and learn how they learn. It is a different type of learning that occurs in a church setting compared to a music school setting. I always try to bring my best musicality and refuse to diminish the quality I strive for. This experience is giving me the opportunity to grow as a conductor and expand my gesture. My biggest struggle would be the childrens choirs and knowing how to get them to make proper sound. Childrens choir techniques are something I would very much like to know more about. I have also learned a great deal about programming in the liturgical year, and how to choose repertoire based on your choirs strengths but yet align to the texts for each week. This experience has most definitely, and will continue to make me a better music teacher. There is nothing like learning from experience and that is what this opportunity is giving me.