My Online Community:
Online communities open the doors to worlds of resources for busy educators. Specifically for string and orchestra teachers, the online world is a gold mine of ideas, tips, discussions, teaching strategies and more. There is so much information and opportunities for sharing, that it can be entirely overwhelming. Thus, to organize all my resources; I am an avid user of the bookmarks manager where I organize over 200 pages that I frequent regularly. A few blogs that I have been closely following since I began teaching strings over 5 years ago include; Orchestra Classroom Ideas, Teach Suzuki and the Violinist.com. I value these websites not only because they are easily accessible, but also because they are filled with honest and thoughtful reflections.
In addition to my bookmarks manager, I keep track of valuable resources on Pinterest. I have several boards which are divided into different categories of music education including a general music board, a violin specific board and an orchestra board. Pinterest has served as an important platform for me to communicate with former music education colleagues from my undergraduate degree as we have been planning projects, swapping ideas and sharing our best pins for years.
As an active member of both the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) and the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) since 2010, I turn to both of these membership based online communities for access to published journals, achieved conferences and online forums.
SAA, is a coalition of teachers, parents, and educators, and who support, promote and guide Suzuki education in the americas. The Suzuki method, an internationally renowned music education pedagogy founded by Japanese violinist and educator Shinichi Suzuki, is based on the idea that every child is also capable of learning music in a nurturing and positive environment. For me, SAA’s online community been a place where I can find information on professional development, employment opportunities, as well as free access to publications, and discussions including “teachers’ corner,” and “parents’ corner.”
I joined ASTA as part of the state level chapter shortly before traveling to my first ASTA conference in Providence, Rode Island.I have found my membership to be an incredible source of inspiration and motivation though string community connections. I joined to expand my knowledge base as a string teacher, particularly in the areas of orchestra and lower strings pedagogy. Some of my favorite forum discussions are those about cello and bass technique, because as a violinist it is very important that I have continuous opportunities for professional development in all areas of the orchestra, not just the upper strings. ASTA’s award winning journal is the perfect example of knowledge from the best in our field, as the articles are written by long standing professionals and researchers in field of strings and orchestra education.
Finally, by the recommendation of the orchestra teacher at Floyd Dryden Middle School, I turned to social networking and joined the Facebook group “Orchestra Teachers.” This is forum for string teachers their practices an experiences. It is a welcoming space within which, posts are activity read and responded to. I have posted numerous times asking for advice or sharing my experiences to help others. It is a wonderful feeling to have over a dozen music enthusiasts respond to a post about my students “low 2s,” within a couple hours.
In addition to my bookmarks manager, I keep track of valuable resources on Pinterest. I have several boards which are divided into different categories of music education including a general music board, a violin specific board and an orchestra board. Pinterest has served as an important platform for me to communicate with former music education colleagues from my undergraduate degree as we have been planning projects, swapping ideas and sharing our best pins for years.
As an active member of both the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) and the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) since 2010, I turn to both of these membership based online communities for access to published journals, achieved conferences and online forums.
SAA, is a coalition of teachers, parents, and educators, and who support, promote and guide Suzuki education in the americas. The Suzuki method, an internationally renowned music education pedagogy founded by Japanese violinist and educator Shinichi Suzuki, is based on the idea that every child is also capable of learning music in a nurturing and positive environment. For me, SAA’s online community been a place where I can find information on professional development, employment opportunities, as well as free access to publications, and discussions including “teachers’ corner,” and “parents’ corner.”
I joined ASTA as part of the state level chapter shortly before traveling to my first ASTA conference in Providence, Rode Island.I have found my membership to be an incredible source of inspiration and motivation though string community connections. I joined to expand my knowledge base as a string teacher, particularly in the areas of orchestra and lower strings pedagogy. Some of my favorite forum discussions are those about cello and bass technique, because as a violinist it is very important that I have continuous opportunities for professional development in all areas of the orchestra, not just the upper strings. ASTA’s award winning journal is the perfect example of knowledge from the best in our field, as the articles are written by long standing professionals and researchers in field of strings and orchestra education.
Finally, by the recommendation of the orchestra teacher at Floyd Dryden Middle School, I turned to social networking and joined the Facebook group “Orchestra Teachers.” This is forum for string teachers their practices an experiences. It is a welcoming space within which, posts are activity read and responded to. I have posted numerous times asking for advice or sharing my experiences to help others. It is a wonderful feeling to have over a dozen music enthusiasts respond to a post about my students “low 2s,” within a couple hours.
Furthermore, I touched by an article entitled, Fairfax music teacher lauded for her ‘electrifying’ methods. The article really impacted my spirit as a orchestra teacher, because alike the teacher in the article I do feel like my classes are “somewhat chaotic.” However, when the article went on to describe how the students could feel the teacher’s empathy and compassion, I could relate and felt driven to do the best I can, even if it is crazy and weird, for the sake of my students.
Articles shared on this Facebook page have been a source of laughter or tears, inspiration and determination.