The Sky Is Blue

Me: "Students, the sky is blue."
Overly Jaded 7th Graders: "Ok, whatever Mrs. R-O."

a few weeks later

Guest clinician: "Students, the sky is blue."
Students:

The students then start discussing various shades of blue the sky can then be found in, as well as variations during sunrise and sunset. 

Sounds familiar? Then you've had a guest work with your ensembles before.  If not, give it a try!

 Here's why:

• The sky is blue. I joke about it, but having someone else tell kids the same thing you've been saying really seems to help it click. The looks on my students' faces when our clinician would use a term we'd been discussing was priceless (Also, slightly insulting. I wish they hadn't been quite so surprised that I occasionally know what I'm talking about). Somehow, hearing it in that different voice makes it more legitimate.
• Fresh ears. Yesterday, our clinician pointed out a mistake being made in our baritone section that I honestly hadn't even noticed. After hearing it so many times, day in and day out, it had become part of the sound for me. Fresh eyes and ears on a score bring new perspective to something you've been spending weeks, if not months, on.
• New ideas. You might have been spending weeks telling students that the sky is, in fact, blue. But your clinician might have a different way of sharing that same information that helps it sink in. I can't tell you how many times I've picked up a new phrase or analogy to throw in my tool bag for teaching different concepts.

There are lots of ways you can find someone to hear your groups. Reach out to local colleges and universities. Contact your local music organizations. Talk to other directors in the area to find names of recently retired teachers who might be willing to come out. You could even reach out on social media and set up a Skype session if geography is a challenge!

Whether you're in your first year, your eighth, or twentieth, a new perspective on the same material can make all the difference!