OrchestraTeacher.net

Author: Charles Laux

Apps / Assessment / Classroom Pedagogy / Conference Recap / Hardware / iOS / Teaching Strategies

TODA 2018

It was great to be in San Antonio presenting at this year’s TODA conference! I love the energy that the Texas teachers bring!  Below are the resources from my presentation. Practical Approaches to Assessment in the 21st Century String Classroom Download Slides (PDF) Some web resources mentioned in the presentation:...

Assessment / Classroom Pedagogy / Left Hand / Pedagogy / Right Hand / Teaching Strategies

ASTA 2018 Session Information

Assessment Practices of the 21st Century String Classroom presented by John-Rine Zabanal and Charles Laux Handout Download (PDF)   Setting Up Your Students for Success! presented by Charles Laux Downloadable slides and more coming soon!    

Apps / Classroom Pedagogy / Hardware / Intonation / Technology Integration

How Pure is Your Ensemble’s Intonation? Introducing the Yamaha Harmony Director

Session co-presented by Dr. Charles Laux and Dr. David Vandewalker at the 2018 Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference. Download Presentation Slides [gview file=”http://www.orchestrateacher.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Harmony-Director-Session-Slides.pdf”] App Links Tonal Energy Tuner | iOS |Android (~$4) ClearTune | iOS | Android (~$4) iStroboSoft (Peterson Strobe Tuner) | iOS | Android. (~$10) YouTube Playlist of HD-200...

Classroom Pedagogy / Personalized Learning

Engage Your Music Students With a Personalized Learning Environment

Session co-presented by Charles Laux and Megan Endicott at the 2018 Georgia Music Educators Association Conference Charles Laux Megan Endicott Download Presentation Slides [gview file=”http://www.orchestrateacher.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Personalized-Learning-GMEA2018.pdf”] Other Resources Home Practice Organizer (example) [gview file=”http://www.orchestrateacher.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/AHS-HPO-Form.pdf”] Fulton Schools Personalized Learning

Equipment

Ascenté: A Quality Synthetic Core Violin String Set

Using quality strings can help create a healthy and mature sound on a student instrument and improve the tone quality and tuning of your orchestra. For many years there were few options — either you chose inexpensive steel strings that sounded loud and harsh or you opted for a set...

String Repairs

Redrilling holes in tuning pegs

Back to school means dealing with students bringing in new instruments.  While most of my students have decent instruments that are well set up, some come in with poor quality instruments that need a few tweaks to be playable. One of the problems with poor quality instruments (or older instruments) is...

Mac Software / Technology Integration

Helping your students with small ensembles

For the last few weeks, my students have been working in small chamber groups (duets, trios, quartets, etc.).  We finished our large group performance assessment in mid-February and started this solo & ensemble unit afterwards. I’ve let students form their own groups and select their own pieces. For me, it’s more...

General Announcements

Back to school with renewed energy and excitement

Dear Orchestra Teacher Friends, It has been a while since I’ve posted on this site, but I wanted to give you an update as to what is going on. This August I began a new chapter in my career as I headed back to teach full-time in a high school orchestra classroom after spending...

Classroom Pedagogy / Pedagogy / Right Hand

ASTA 2016

ASTA is always an incredible conference and 2016 was no different.  The weather in Tampa was fantastic and I attended some amazing sessions.  Special thanks to D’Addario for the great party on Thursday evening. They are generous in their support of string teachers!! I presented two sessions: It’s all about the bow!...

Composition / Improvisation

Fostering Creativity Using Composition & Improvisation in the String Classroom

Download Slides (PDF) Description: In addition to learning string instrument skills and new repertoire, a complete string player is one who is willing to diversify into a variety of musical outlets, including composition and improvisation. Laux will demonstrate how to efficiently integrate composition and improvisation techniques into a string program to foster creative musicianship that...