Hilliard Darby is one of three high schools in the city of Hilliard, Ohio. There are over 1500 plus students in the district of Hilliard! I was fortunate enough to mentor between two buildings which were, Hilliard Darby and Hilliard Heritage Middle School. Darby has a variety of programs in the performing arts area such as band, orchestra, choir, and other ensembles regarding those three main areas! Heritage has the same three main areas as well but not as many ensembles which is normal for a middle school. While at Heritage, I got to observe the classes and interact with the students by helping them with their pieces of music. I also was granted the opportunity to give a lesson to a student at Heritage Middle School which you can read about from one of my blogs here!
Learning Objectives and Goals
Throughout this experience with Mr. James, I had certain objectives that I set out to learn and to achieve. These goals helped to guide my day to day and week by week activities, as I observed and participated in ensembles and rehearsals.
Learning Goal 1: I will teach/conduct a percussion ensemble piece for OMEA ensemble so that I can demonstrate the skills needed to effectively lead a group of musicians. Completion date: December 2018 Completed?: Yes, although the OMEA ensemble performance is not until February the group has successfully prepared the music and are to perform it on Wednesday December 12th, 2018 at the annual celebration concert! I achieved this goal by attending the rehearsals every Tuesday after school and conducting the ensemble alongside my mentor.
Learning Goal 2: I will successfully learn all of the required audition music for college and have my mentor give constructive criticism. Completion date: December 2018 Completed?: Yes, I achieved this goal by planning out my monthly and weekly goals as well as taking lessons for further help and feedback.
Learning Goal 3: I will listen and witness how to teach a beginning percussion course. Completion date: December 2018 Completed?: Yes, I achieved this by going to Hilliard Heritage Middle School with my mentor to witness how he teaches the beginning percussionist in the band classes on Mondays and Wednesdays and attending concerts.
Learning Goal 4: I will effectively learn how to teach a beginning percussionist. Completion date: December 2018 Completed?: Yes, I achieved this goal by going over to Hilliard Heritage Middle School and giving lessons to a beginning percussionist and a beginner percussion ensemble group.
Learning Goal 5: I will go outside my comfort zone and experience something in percussion that will challenge me. Completion date: December 2018 Completed?: Yes, in my previous goal I mentioned giving a lesson to a beginning percussionist. This was a great challenge to me and made me go out of my comfort zone, but was a great experience.