Reply To: Forgotten instruments – Beg. band

[nafmeadmin]

I have young, elementary school students in my beginning bands, so when they forget their instruments, they either play on a pencil, showing very clearly their fingerings, OR they are conductor for the day. I teach them the simple “down-in-out-up” 4/4 pattern with their arms (because it’s the most common time signature we’re using in beginning band) and they really have to focus and work on their steady beat. Students not only learn to look at someone new standing in front of them, but they also start to appreciate what conductors do! This also allows me to move about the room to attend to individual students needing help. It’s worked great so far, through some students see being a conductor for the day as a reward… so I may need to try something different.