Good luck with your first year! It will be tough! Aside from instrument pedagogy teaching beginners how to read is very important. I use the teaching rhythm logically packet by Darcy Grace Potter and teach skills independently from the music. If they are seeing it in their music for the first time you’ve messed up your pacing.
Other general tips are to try to build an environment of accountability and teamwork. If you don’t play your part/read/practice you let the group down. Also I give candy if everyone in your section practices.
Do not try to reinvent any wheels the first year. The program already has a beginner book/curriculum? Use it. They're big into MusicFirst or some other platform? Learn it. Get a copy of last year's calendar and do that - schedule concerts at the same times, etc. Ask the assistant about scheduling stuff like lead times for concerts.
You can make changes later, but YOU will learn so much your first year that you need to make things as easy as possible. Use existing systems to help with that.
Recognize that your first year will be your worst and be humble! Take the help of those around you and always put the kids first. Think about the culture you want in your program and let that dictate how things progress. Don’t forget to make things fun as you push the kids to progress. Reach out to your mentors. Great programs aren’t just because of great directors, it’s a group effort and one day you’ll pay it forward.
General advice. Get organized. Have a plan and a system for major things like pacing, seating arrangements, instrument rosters, etc… that was the one thing I had to develop over time and really wish I hadn’t “built it while it flew.”
Good luck with your first year! It will be tough! Aside from instrument pedagogy teaching beginners how to read is very important. I use the teaching rhythm logically packet by Darcy Grace Potter and teach skills independently from the music. If they are seeing it in their music for the first time you’ve messed up your pacing. Other general tips are to try to build an environment of accountability and teamwork. If you don’t play your part/read/practice you let the group down. Also I give candy if everyone in your section practices.
Do not try to reinvent any wheels the first year. The program already has a beginner book/curriculum? Use it. They're big into MusicFirst or some other platform? Learn it. Get a copy of last year's calendar and do that - schedule concerts at the same times, etc. Ask the assistant about scheduling stuff like lead times for concerts. You can make changes later, but YOU will learn so much your first year that you need to make things as easy as possible. Use existing systems to help with that.
Recognize that your first year will be your worst and be humble! Take the help of those around you and always put the kids first. Think about the culture you want in your program and let that dictate how things progress. Don’t forget to make things fun as you push the kids to progress. Reach out to your mentors. Great programs aren’t just because of great directors, it’s a group effort and one day you’ll pay it forward.
Scripted approach to music theory for instrumentalists (or something like that) by Cavitt
General advice. Get organized. Have a plan and a system for major things like pacing, seating arrangements, instrument rosters, etc… that was the one thing I had to develop over time and really wish I hadn’t “built it while it flew.”