Matt

Matt is a second-year teacher at Fike High School. He teaches three ensembles. He received his undergraduate degree in Music Education from East Carolina University.

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Essential Questions: (to get an idea of what the classroom looks like)  
-What did a normal day in your classroom look like pre-covid? 
A normal day in my class would consist of a warm-up, sight-reading, solfege work (because lots of them are new to solfege), and the majority of the time is working on pieces for a concert.  It is largely performance-based.

-What does a normal day in your classroom look like now?
Now, we are FINALLY getting back to normal.  Though numbers are limited, we are able to warm-up, sight-read, do some (much needed) solfege work, and we are working on a few pieces.  A concert is not in the works right now, but any work we put in NOW helps us in the long run for next year.

-What restrictions are in place for the school you are teaching at, specifically revolving around singing?
Since we have recently moved to Plan A, social distancing is not required.  However, masks still are.  Every singer has to wear a mask at all times.  Temperatures are also checked upon arrival.  (Just found out last night that this will stop on Monday.)

-Is your classroom all online, hybrid, or all in person? Has that changed?
The school year started off as 100% online.  We moved to a hybrid format around the beginning of February.  We are now in Plan A where a good majority of the students are back.  However, I'd say about half of my students are in "Virtual Academy", so it is still a hybrid situation.  Wednesdays are also planned remote days.  Faculty and staff are the only ones in the building.  No students or guests are allowed.
 

Teaching Related Questions

-How has the content you are teaching changed?
Pre-COVID-19, the content that was taught was largely performance-based.  It was more of a rehearsal than an academically-focused music class.  Since COVID struck, this has shifted dramatically in the other position.  I have been teaching a LOT of music theory, music history, solfege work, and sight-reading.  Due to the demographic nature and lack of sturdy technology in the hands of my students, virtual choirs were not feasible.  Now that we are in Plan A, we are slowly making the transition back to a performance-based curriculum.

 
-Has there been any positives to teaching in an online format?
Surprisingly, yes.  I have been able to talk to people more often in a one-on-one setting.  Students have felt more comfortable with me to talk about certain things.  I have found a plethora of digital teaching tools to help me out with assessments.  One of these being Flipgrid.  Flipgrid allows students to record themselves sing or show hand signs for solfege syllables.  I have even tried using this in person, and I really like it for individual assessments.  I have done "sing-offs" with students to make sure they are singing the right notes and rhythms.  Instead of pulling students up in front of the class and doing them quartet or octet style, I can now have them sing it all as a group, while individually recording themselves.  They have the comfort of singing with a group, and I get the pleasure of individually assessing them.  Edpuzzle, Nearpod, and PearDeck have also been great teaching tools for me during this time.

I also got to teach about things that I would not normally have been able to take a day to talk about - such as music of social justice.  We were able to have very mature conversations about current events in the world and how my students feel about it.  Students of color and LGBTQIA+ were able to express themselves in an open and safe way that otherwise may not have happened in a performance-based class.

-What has been the most difficult part about teaching music in these times?
Not being able to make music in a way that is "easier."  Students want to join chorus to SING, and since COVID-19 has disrupted the flow of everyday life, they have not been able to sing together in quite a while. 

Also, students and teachers (read as... EVERYONE) are really struggling emotionally, academically, mentally, and socially.  A student of mine tried to commit suicide due to the stresses of teaching.  Many of my students have had family members pass due to complications with COVID-19.  It's really a struggle.

-How has the pandemic shifted your approach to teaching in the music classroom?
I'm checking in with my students a LOT more.  I am also taking a more music-fundamental approach to lessons.  I want to make sure my students can READ and become literate musicians.  This helps the program out in the long run with learning difficult repertoire.

-How do/did you keep your kids engaged in a virtual setting?
It's hard - you try to act silly, give your students an engaging lesson, and still you won't see some of their faces.  Finding things that make THEM interested and plugging that in to your curriculum focused lesson is hard, but doable and certainly achievable.
 

Philosophical Questions:  

- Do you think there was anything you could’ve been taught in undergrad that may have prepared you more for the pandemic?  
ECU did a phenomenal job preparing me for the classroom.  However, some things you just are not afforded the opportunity to learn until you get in the shoes of a teacher or director.  Learning how to communicate with parents is one thing that I STILL struggle with.  I hate making phone calls, especially bad ones.  Also, learning how to work with a booster program and managing the finances for your program is something that I'm still learning about.  

I also wish I had learned more "tools" and "tricks" to teach students.  For example, I have been doing a lot of trial-and-error teaching with tenors and basses who refuse to match pitch.  It's all about finding out what works.  Build your toolboxes NOW!

-Post pandemic, do you think the music classroom will go back to how it was? Will this pandemic shift how the classroom changes forever?  
I really hope that it will move back to a "normal" setting.  However, the introduction and ultimate success of virtual school will definitely be something that goes with us post-pandemic.  Unfortunately, there may not be any more inclement weather days.  They will probably now be "virtual" or "remote" days where instruction STILL goes forward despite the weather.  Is that a good thing or a bad thing??  Who knows... 

-What has been the biggest takeaway from this year, teaching-wise?

Give yourself AND your students GRACE!  This pandemic has certainly heightened a lot of anxiety, depression, and sadness among everyone.  But, for those who have these conditions already, it's magnified x10 or x20.  Students and colleagues may hide their battles with these (I know I have) from those around, and you never know when a little grace extended can encourage and support whomever to continue and grant them the energy and motivation to do what we need/should do.  Your kids need YOU, so take care of YOU first.  If you are not taken care of yourself, then who will take care of your students?