Percussion Instructor Audio/Video Chats

[dgaking]

Sometimes the forum format can be limiting. I think it would be productive to get instructors together to verbally share tips, exchange ideas, and maybe even debate a few topics. We can all learn from each other, and hopefully we all get better. Most of us are wrapping up winter drumline, which means we will start looking at our summer/fall programs soon. Maybe we could do a few weekly chats leading up to the summer. I am thinking of some topics that would get us on track with some fresh ideas before the summer:

• Teaching technique and exercises

• Marching/visual techniques and teaching methods

• Setting the line

• Arranging for outdoor

• Teaching the line new music

• Electronics

I think our varied availability might make Sunday evenings work the best, but Monday or Thursday evenings are good for me too if people have a problem with Sunday. I like Skype or Google+, and could setup either, but I am open to other ideas if you have them. Who is interested in doing an instructors-only live chat?

[Buranri]

I think it should be open to people beyond instructors... Those are definitely all things I need to learn about. Unless by "instructors" you just meant anyone teaching a line, in which case ignore this post :p

[dgaking]

You don't have to wear a fancy caption head hat to be considered an instructor. Techs are teachers too! I would say anyone out of high school who is teaching drumline in some way could benefit from this or contribute. Please join in!

[doylejd]

Doug, I like this idea a lot. I think that G+ on Sundays would be the best way to go... I think we should start after Dayton though, as indoor is eating up all of my time.

I think it should be open to people beyond instructors...

While I see where you are coming from, it is very seldom that other instructors get to communicate directly with each other. I only ever see my friends who teach at contests or if they come out to a rehearsal to help out. During the school year most of us spend 12-13 hours at our schools during the week, and then our entire weekends at marching band or indoor percussion rehearsal. When summer rolls around, you teach band camps or jump on a bus with a drum corps.

Having a chat with just the older guys seems super refreshing, I'd love to chat with Bill, sXe, awakentosleep, Dennis and of course Doug.

[EDIT} Sorry Buranri, I didn't read your post throughly. Anyone teaching should be allowed, but I would say definitely no students.

[billc36]

Sundays would work best for me.

Perhaps we could have multiple sessions. One where it's just caption heads to bounce ideas off each other, then another for techs where they are able to ask most of the questions and we as caption heads, or old guys, can help them learn.

[dgaking]

While I see where you are coming from, it is very seldom that other instructors get to communicate directly with each other. I only ever see my friends who teach at contests or if they come out to a rehearsal to help out. During the school year most of us spend 12-13 hours at our schools during the week, and then our entire weekends at marching band or indoor percussion rehearsal. When summer rolls around, you teach band camps or jump on a bus with a drum corps.

Having a chat with just the older guys seems super refreshing, I'd love to chat with Bill, sXe, awakentosleep, Dennis and of course Doug.

[EDIT} Sorry Buranri, I didn't read your post throughly. Anyone teaching should be allowed, but I would say definitely no students.

I agree 100%. I get like 5 minutes a week to chat with other percussion instructors, usually at contests when we have 1,000 things going on. I love students, but I spend like 60 hours a week with them, so I've met my quota. All teachers welcome for this particular chat. No HS students. If you are a college student but instructing high schools, you are in. I'm glad we're all on the same page about that, and I'm glad you guys are interested.

[dgaking]

Sundays would work best for me.

Perhaps we could have multiple sessions. One where it's just caption heads to bounce ideas off each other, then another for techs where they are able to ask most of the questions and we as caption heads, or old guys, can help them learn.

I was thinking multiple sessions, each with one topic, such as one of those listed above. Keeping each chat focused will help us be efficient and thorough. I definitely want to do a technique/music chat and a marching/visual chat. Then we can see what else people want to discuss for other sessions. I was thinking I could start each session off by throwing out a couple questions to get things going, and a couple people could share on each one. That would mostly be the caption heads. We could compare and contrast our programs and learn a little more about each other and what other instructors are doing. Then we can expand into more informal discussion and see where it takes us.

[dgaking]

Doug, I like this idea a lot. I think that G+ on Sundays would be the best way to go... I think we should start after Dayton though, as indoor is eating up all of my time.

They just added some new features to G+ hangouts that definitely make it attractive. You can share a sketchpad, and you can add documents to the hangout. You can use video and/or audio, and it is easy to mute either one at any time. As long as you have a Google account, it should be a piece of cake to join. Add me to one of your circles. Hopefully this link gets you to me: https://plus.google.com/u/0/108743550222592491519/posts

[hotbeats645]

Would you all be open to discussing more than just marching percussion in one of the "meetings"?

[dgaking]

Would you all be open to discussing more than just marching percussion in one of the "meetings"?

You mean there are other kinds of percussion? J/K, sure. What do you have in mind?

[hotbeats645]

Would you all be open to discussing more than just marching percussion in one of the "meetings"?

You mean there are other kinds of percussion? J/K, sure. What do you have in mind?

A lot of my students are working on stuff for district and state solo ensembles, so we should definitely share ideas about that. i also try to supplement world percussion and drum set with mallet playing and other shennanigans they have to do for middle school and high school band programs

[bug1580]

I'm very excited about this! I signed up for Google+ just for this, so I have no idea how to use it, but I think these "meetings" are a great idea!

[sxetnrdrmr]

this would definitely be cool, and I would try to make it on the Sundays that I don't have my rock band rehearsals or hockey. Sundays are my only day where I don't do "School" music stuff - both of my rock bands practice - and Sunday evenings are the only free evening I have for hockey, which I can't give up or i will balloon up into a cow! I also don't have Skype...I am pretty far behind on technology stuff so you all might have to help me with that

[dgaking]

I have had several percussion instructors add me on Google+ today, so it looks like that's the way we are going to go. If you have a Google or Gmail account, it's really easy to get on G+. If not, it is worth signing up for an account to access all the free services they offer, like Docs, Sites, Calendar, Reader, etc. Go to http://plus.google.com to get logged in. Add me https://plus.google.com/u/0/108743550222592491519/posts and I will add you to my circle to make sure you get invited to the G+ "Hangout" when we get this started.

[awakentosleep]

I'm game.

[Creekynoise]

Sounds like an excellent idea!

[Buranri]

Signed up. I'm still a high school student, but I'm also going to be teaching my line next year, so hopefully you don't mind me popping in.

[billc36]

Nothing personal Burnari, but I believe we're wanting to keep this to current instructors with no high school students.

After you graduate, you can participate in them.

[Cubee]

Added. What time will this happen on sunday?

I've my first teaching gig next year. As caption head of an underfunded but dedicated group of kids. I have plenty of marching experience, and I'd appreciate any help I could get learning how to effectively transfer knowledge to the kids.

[Wagsdrummer92]

ooVoo would be a great tool to use for this.

those who don't know ooVoo is skype except you can have multiple people in a video chat at one time

[hotbeats645]

ooVoo is cool, my gmail is being really wonky, but i'll try to fix it

[ayeyomaggots]

i realize why you want to limit this to current instructors, but is there any way someone can record the video chat sessions and then post them here kind of like a video blog?

i think the information you guys will be discussing would be helpful/interesting to a lot of members here, instructors or not.

[Buranri]

i realize why you want to limit this to current instructors, but is there any way someone can record the video chat sessions and then post them here kind of like a video blog?

i think the information you guys will be discussing would be helpful/interesting to a lot of members here, instructors or not.

This works too.

[dgaking]

I will look into either recording it or allowing people to listen or view passively.

We are holding off until the weekend after WGI, so that gives us a little time to sort it out.

[tonyt913]

I agree with ayeyomaggots's and Buranri's points. As the only "rudimental percussionist" at my high school with no drum tech of any kind, recordings (but preferably inclusion) would be a great resource!