Reflection Topics

Reflection #7- 6/12/12

For "Reflection #2- 11/2/11" you were asked to set measurable goals for yourself with regards to your participation this year in the band program. With the year drawing to a close, revisit your comments and reflect upon whether or not you met your expectations. Did your goals shift as the year progressed? Where did you fall short? How, specifically, are you a different musician now than in Term 1? Cut and paste your original comment before typing your reflection. (Due Tuesday, June 12th @ 11:59pm.)

Reflection #6b: 5/11/12

Choose either this reflection topic or #6a. It's report card time. Considering all that's taken place since September, rate our performance as an ensemble this year. What has caused us difficulty? In what ways have we shown progress? Give us a letter grade and justify your decision, keeping in mind that an A+ would be the "ideal high school band", but not the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Be thoughtful and objective. (Due 11:59pm, Friday, 5/11.)

Reflection #6a: 5/11/12

Choose either this reflection topic or #6b. Consider your musical idols. What do you admire about them, and how do they inspire you? In what ways do they influence your own musicianship? Why are role models such as this important to us in our roles as music students? (Due 11:59pm, Friday, 5/11.)

Reflection #5: 4/2/12

Imagine that all the world's recorded and printed music were to suddenly become inaccessible. Considering the music that you know by heart, which pieces/songs would you choose to pass on to your descendants? Would you choose music that defines our culture or personally defines your own existence? Is the preservation of music through oral tradition essential? (Due 11:59pm, 4/2/12.)

Reflection #4: 3/6/12

As promised in class, I'd like you to offer your opinion on any topic. Choose something about which you feel strongly (musical or otherwise), and defend your position. Be mindful that other students will be reading your post, and that content should be school-appropriate. (Imagine your principal reading this before you submit it.) TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY, TAKE YOUR TIME and TAKE A STAND. (Due 11:59pm, Tuesday, 3/6/12.)

Reflection #3: 12/16/11

We often talk about practicing to improve our technique, (articulation, range, rhythm, fingering, etc.) but with pieces like "Ammerland" on the program for the Winter Concert, we need to consider our ability to play expressively. What does "expressive playing" mean? How might you work to improve your sense of musical expression? Can you play expressively without being technically proficient, or play technically without giving an expressive performance? Do technique and expression share any common ground? Why is expressive playing important? (Due 11:59pm- 12/16/11)

Reflection #2: 11/2/11

What do you hope to accomplish this year in band? Could you set measurable goals for yourself in terms of practice, musicianship, rehearsals, etc.? Would you like to improve specific areas of your technique? Work more closely with your section? In June, what will have made this year in band a success for you? Be specific, as we'll revisit these goals for a Term 4 reflective essay.

Reflection #1: 9/28/11

In class, we discussed the historical context surrounding"The Great Locomotive Chase." Please answer the following question by 9/28/11: This piece didn't have to be attached to this story. (It could've been composed the same way and given an entirely different title.) Why tell this story through music? How effective is the composer in accomplishing this task? If you were writing it, what might you have changed?