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Teaching two bands as the lead teacher

Posted by Third year teacher on 3/22/2021, 1:56 pm

Good morning!

I am teaching two "UIL" concert bands this year (NV and Sub-NV) for the first time as the lead teacher for both classes. I know this is a fairly common thing for a director to be in charge of more than one concert band, but this is my first time. I'm having trouble balancing responsibilities between both... does anyone have any general tips that helped you manage this specific situation?

The other staff member is unable to help as they are teaching my virtual kids at the same time I'm on the podium, for whatever its worth.

Thanks for any help and hope everyone is hanging in there.

Re: Teaching two bands as the lead teacher

Posted by maybe on 3/23/2021, 8:32 am, in reply to "Teaching two bands as the lead teacher"

Do what you can to align the two different classes so that you're working more efficiently. I'm not sure if they are middle or high school kids. You can double up some of their handouts or work on things in sectionals that both groups are doing. Maybe after UIL work on the same piece for both bands so they can play together.

Re: Teaching two bands as the lead teacher

Posted by Suggestions on 3/22/2021, 2:44 pm, in reply to "Teaching two bands as the lead teacher"

1. Record your rehearsals.

2. At the end of every rehearsal, write down what you worked on, what went well, and what you still need to polish. Use the recording to help. Having that second set of "ears" may mean that you hear issues you don't hear otherwise.

3. Have a GREAT set of backward-planned lesson plans to use. If you need to be ready to perform by (random) April 24, then you need to know where your kids in each class should be a day, a week, 2 weeks, etc from that date.

Re: Teaching two bands as the lead teacher

Posted by Class time only on 3/22/2021, 4:47 pm, in reply to "Re: Teaching two bands as the lead teacher"

And do not count on sectional time as part of your rehearsal plans. Kids practicing outside of class and after school rehearsals are bonus. You need to plan your rehearsal time so that if you ONLY had class your kids would be prepared.

I had a great director tell me that early in my career and I took it to heart. I rarely ever did sectionals. I had a band hall open 4 days a week to practice. But I got everything done IN class so that my kids could do OTHER stuff outside of class whether that was other band stuff or other life stuff.

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