111 Innovative Ideas for High School Music Programs

WHO NEEDS THIS AND WHY

All High School music educators!

Whether you're a first year graduate teacher, or the Head of Department there are ideas and strategies for you. There are some ideas for teaching (10 for Teaching and 17 for Ensembles), but this book is really designed to get you thinking about the music program as a wholistic experience.

There is much we can do to build collaboration and connection for our students and our community. This work can really strengthen the emotional connection of students to music making.

But this work often gets forgotten, put in the 'to do' or the 'too hard' basket. This book is written to get you unstuck and taking action to solve problems or seize opportunities. To show you how simple it can be to innvovate and that implementing new ideas does not have to require significant time or money.

From simple tweaks to radical rethinking, there's something in here for everyone.

SHUFFLING THE PENCILS AND STAPLER...

In “The Art of the Possibility”, Benjamin Zander describes a concept he calls “leading from any chair”. He found that an orchestra could achieve peak performance levels when its members are able to suggest better ways to play a piece. This goes against the grain of the traditional hierarchical and structured organisations.

• Maybe this goes against the culture of where you work
• Maybe this goes against the leadership style of where you work
• Maybe you can't change the really BIG problems

But you CAN shuffle the pencils and the stapler. The receptionist of a company cannot necessarily re-write the vision, mission and values of the organisation - but they CAN shuffle the pencils and stapler on their desk to make better working environment for themselves and those coming into the office.

So what CAN you shuffle? What's within reach that you can make better using these ideas and strategies?

Stop waiting for the cultural changes that you crave, and make change from wherever you are.

PRAISE

"A lovely combination of ready-to-go and longer term strategies. Both books will give you an instant creative boost and feeling of positivity for the future!"
-Sarina BMus MTeach

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

As former high school band nerds, music educators, entrepreneurs, partners in life and parents to two teen musicians - we knew we had a lot to offer. So we made this resource to share our expertise in rethinking the high school music program experience.

This resource has suggestions for ways to engage your students, parents, school and broader community. We hope you use these prompts as a starting point, and challenge you to add another 111 innovative ideas to this list.

Also check out Susan's other ebook 111 Innovative Ideas for Youth & Community Music Ensembles and Ingrid's ebook Score Reading for Ensembles.

You can find Susan's work at Notable Values and Ingrid at her website or at Conducting Artistry. We both have newsletters you can subscribe to, podcasts to listen to and blogs to read. Ingrid also has a range of free courses on conducting and leading ensembles, plus some paid ones too.

With thanks for all you do for your music community!

Cheers,
Susan Eldridge BMus, MMus
Founder, Notable Values
 
Ingrid Martin MBBS, Grad Dip Mus, Grad Dip Ed, MMus
Founder, Conducting Artistry

ps Did you notice Ingrid's interesting mix of qualifications? Can you figure it out? If you want to hear her story about pursuing a career in medicine before switching to full time music, you can hear her talk about it on my first podcast Beyond The Stage.

pps If you want to hear how Susan left music as a young graduate, built a multi-million dollar tech consultancy in Europe then pivoted back as an expert in the future of music education and music making, you can hear her story on the Entreprenuerial Musician podcast.

CONTENTS

About The Authors
14 Ideas For Post-School
6 Ideas For Careers
10 Ideas For Teaching
8 Ideas For School-Wide Connection
6 Ideas For Digital Musicians
9 Ideas For Music Culture
17 Ideas For Ensembles
3 Ideas For Parents
7 Ideas For Staff PD
8 Ideas For Alumni
5 Ideas For Student Composing
9 Ideas For Community Connection
5 Ideas For Technology
Next Steps: Find The Solution
Next Steps: Idea To Action
Next Steps: Better Meetings
Next Steps Reflection
Resources