ArtsAPSACTION RESEARCH

PROJECTS. JEANNINE THAMES

ORCHESTRA DIRECTOR

CW LONG MIDDLE SCHOOL

DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM

Students not viewing uniformity of orchestra as importantStudent lacking pride as a separate entity with it’s own creative style Students’ bowings and articulations are random and not properly executedStudents failing to see the connections to each of the items as it relates to being a performerMorality issues- not fun, the songs are not “hip”, class mates say the band is better

DOMAIN OF PROJECTWho? 8th grade _ 3 Advanced Orchestra Students What? Mandatory Rehearsal in orhcestra room Students have been in the program the entire year, and needed additional concert etiquette trainingWhere- Orchestra Room C W Long Middle SchoolWhen- “B” During my planning March18- last day of school 2010

DESIGN ofPROJECT

Compose a 5 Point Plan presented to principal as a plan to improve moral, support to the programClinicians: Visit to help with articulation and intonationParental/ Teachers/ Community Involvement: Helps musical education become multifaceted, meaning, I am no longer the only person showing interest in them as musicians.New method books/ Supplemental Materials/ Visual presentations: showing the students performances of other students, themselves proves positive type of reinforcement. They learn not only how to be a performer, but also a spectator using a rubric behavior and how to listen.T-shirts: was a fun idea for the majority

METHODOLOGY AND PROCESS

Planned and executed 5 Point Plan to improve morale in all areas of

Performance DevelopmentStudent Achievement/ InvolvementParental Awareness and InvolvementProgram incentivesTeacher Accountability and Involvement

Created and taught meaningful lessons on how being in performing groups instills prideAdministered survey to glean information

REFER TO THE DATASTUDENTS WHO BEST

DEMONSTRATED UNIFORMITY BY GRADE LEVEL

Students Who Performed

in

Orchestra Uniform

2009-2010

6TH

34%

8TH

33%

7TH

33%

6TH 7TH 8TH

98.5

99

99.5

100

6th 7th 8th

DATA DRIVENOVERALL STUDENTS IN SCHOOL UNIFORM

MONTHLY PARTICIPATION

020406080

100120

AUG

OCT

DEC

FEB

APR

8thgrade A&B 7thgrade A 7th grade B6th grade A0 6th grade B

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATIONS OF THE

DATAWhat do these findings tell me specifically? The major compelling reason kids do not like to wear the school uniforms is because, kids rather do what their peers do. If the cooler kids were in uniform, they all would be! Many of my students who took the survey didn’t even realize the wearing of school uniforms was mandatory here at Long Middle!

The majority of kids still wear their clothes 3 sizes too big and even when in uniform, the same still exists. They have an eerie sense of expressing their style which sends off the wrong message to people who view their tasteless display. Many boys pants sag well below the rear, their shirts are so long like dresses. The girls wear attire too revealing for their ages, and socks with flip flops. I do try to set the example and wear mine daily so the entire school may see me, and have done it for the last 2 years.

As far as morale of the orchestra, I found many kids didn’t like the orchestra shirt. Some liked the shirt, but failed to see the correlation between dressing alike and performing alike amid all my efforts to get them to buy into this etiquette.

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATIONS OF

THE DATA Cont.Many orchestra students were very enthusiastic about being in the orchestra. They tried their best and understood my teaching and took things seriously. They also felt like they could be spokespersons for the orchestra in ways of new ideas and recruitment

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATIONS OF

THE DATA CONT.How do I interpret the results? I thought this would be an easy task, but with complex children come complex issues. Things aren’t always cut and dry. I took the results and delved a little deeper into my research… Weighed pros and cons….

IM FINDING THAT STUDENTS ARE THE SAME EVERYWHERE. ALL MY ORCHESTRA STUDENTS TOOK A SURVEY, AND THEY PRETTY MUCH SAID THE SAME THINGS! They are like sponges, they need to be molded and shaped and stressed the importance of uniformity. They may not get it this year, but there is hopefully next year!

THEPROS AND CONS

CONSStudents felt the uniforms were not going to make them smarterSome did not like the uniform itselfSome thought their own clothes showed who they really wereSome felt no matter what they wore, students would still wear their pants sagging and shirts too big!Some parents still bought street clothes for Christmas and children wore those insteadHas nothing to do with how they feel about being in orchestra

THE PROS AND CONSPROS

Some felt that visitors would believe the school is unifiedSome kids felt they wont have to worry about being teased about their clothesSome felt the audience will be impressed they will think we are professional and have a good image.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

How will I change my instruction? Now, I will take more seriously imput from students when planning lessons and incentives. Originally, it was my plan, but sometimes for time’s sake, I go ahead and take things upon myself and get them done. This ties into why we have managers in the first place and could be something I place them charge over.How does this shape instruction for the future? By relinquishing supervised duties, I can focus more on increasing new student numbers, plan trips and fundraisers for items needed. I was able to synthesize by actually taking the extra time to see what was actually needed to be able to make the orchestra the fun, invaluable class the children really want!What can I share with other educators? Time management is mainly the bottom line to adequate planning, and goes naturally with giving the students more of a planning role in their own program. Also parents like being called on for more than just complaining about their child. Allow them to help build your program.

HOW SHALL I BUILD ON THIS KNOWLEDGE?

Knowledge is power. It drives instruction and builds programs. Now that I have asked important questions to gain an understanding of how uniformity is viewed by the students, I must make every effort to make sure this important component is instilled and valued early on, so that there is no room for haphazard feelings or sluggishness about why they are in uniform to start. There is a certain pride in wearing a uniform that sets teams, groups and organizations apart from each other, and the Long Middle School orchestra is definitely set apart from the others

I will make more meaningful to students the reasons why they will be in orchestra performance attire, relating real life situations and themes so that they hold their heads up even if other children say whatever it is they say to interfere with that pride. When the students have that knowledge, next comes pride. Yes, there are concrete correlations to how one feels about being in ANY group, to the technical aspects of each group, to doing things in certain manner, to dressing alike!! The survey just showed me that this is the very thing I need to be stressing to my students. Also getting my parents involved with uniforms of their own will set a tremendous example of pride in uniformity to the children. There are many new ideas that have surfaced that I cannot wait to try for the up coming year!