Help for Teachers and Districts

String teachers are some of the loneliest and least serviced teachers in any school district. The number of string teachers is usually very small. Their jobs are often stretched out over a number of grade levels and schools. They are often lumped together with the other music disciplines of band and choir for in-service work, but they seldom if ever actually see someone with specialized knowledge in their own field.

Jerry Henry is ready to help the string teachers in your district. He understands that there are unique challenges facing orchestra departments and teachers which are not experienced in the other musical disciplines. He can structure a program to meet the specific needs of your district and your string teachers.

The following are possible program ideas for in service training for your string or music specialists. There is great flexibility as to the exact structure and the presentation specifics for each program. Each program will be structured and individualized to fit the needs of the teachers and districts involved.

While these programs can be structured for any length of time, they fit best in a minimum time slot of two to three hours. With more time the ideas presented can be practiced and absorbed more completely leading to a much higher likelihood of implementation within the classroom. If districts are serious about implementing change, district-wide assessments and followups can also be part of a comprehensive plan to improve the string teaching in your district.

Program 1: Teaching beginning orchestra in groups: This participation session will focus on specific methods which can be used with a heterogeneous group of beginning strings.   Attendees are introduced to and participate in the use of flash cards for rhythmic learning, class drills for skill building using a variety of background music, specific drills for pitch and harmonic training, and a number of practice methodologies for students. When finished with this session, attendees will be able to use flash cards, will have new ways to introduce and teach our musical systems, and will have a number of new resources and applicable ideas which can be used and expanded on when the teacher returns to the classroom.

Program 2:   Teaching mid-level and high school orchestra in groups: This participation session is an extension of program number one. It expands the strategies for beginning level students, and moves into teaching the extended skills needed in preparing second and third year students for high school. These areas include moving into multiple key signatures, shifting, vibrato, sight reading, complex bowing and more. Beyond individual skill building in a group setting, this session will also examine rehearsal structures and activities for standard orchestra rehearsals and programming recommendations for different levels. When this session is completed teachers will have specialized rehearsal techniques for improving a group's tone quality, rhythm, bowing skills, and ensemble skills.

Program 3:    Alignment, Recruiting, and Retention in today’s orchestra: This lecture session looks at the alignment of an orchestra program beginning in fourth, fifth, or sixth grade and continuing through the end of high school. Using Jerry's book, "The Fluffy Continuum" as its basis the program establishes a road map for creating a successful orchestra program, and then suggests ways to recruit and retain students in today’s environment. This session will also address competition, seating, and grading and assessment. When finished with this session attendees will have specific ideas on aligning a beginning through grade twelve orchestra program using the conceptual approach offered by , "The Fluffy Continuum". They will also have a specific recruiting presentation that can be adapted to their own situation, and a plan to identify and retain the students who are best served by a school orchestra program.

Jerry will structure his visit to your school system to meet your exact needs. His thorough approach to preparation, his knowledge, and his background allow him to mix and match various presentations to make his visit compelling, insightful, and energizing. If your string program needs a boost Jerry can find ways to help.

If your school district's string program seems to be floundering it may need something other than in-service programs. There are several possible options including individual teacher evaluations and coaching or a complete district evaluation. Jerry is ready to provide you with both.

Teacher Evaluation: Visit teachers in their classrooms and evaluate their teaching methods and classroom management skills. A written assessment with specific areas of weakness and specific remedies would be presented to the teacher and to the appropriate administration within one week of the evaluation. Follow-up sessions with individual teachers to assess progress and practice sessions if appropriate could be arranged.

District Evaluation: A comprehensive examination and report on the state of the orchestra program in your district. The district evaluation would include visits to all orchestra classes, talks with each teacher, a written evaluation of the individual teachers, a written evaluation of the state of the program at each school with regards to vertical alignment, staffing, funding, student access, equipment and facilities, and recommendations for the future.