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James W. Doyle

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Creativity in the Classroom—From Re-Creation to Creation 

"In order to be creative, you have to know how to prepare to be creative." 

                                                                                            -Twyla Tharp 

                                                                                                             Dancer/Choreographer 

As music educators, we spend our lives in creative spaces. Making music with our students is our calling and reflecting the music literacy standards is what we innately do. In our K-5 classrooms, creativity may be nurtured through call and response and improvisation games. Student creativity is front and center. As our students enter into large ensembles, the creative activity primarily takes the shape of re-creativity; interpreting the works of others in group settings with you, the director, front and center. 

Finding ways to implement all three of the Artistic Processes; Creating, Performing, and Responding in the large ensemble setting, "Creating" is especially valuable to all of our students and can be implemented into daily routines. 

With a few moments of scaffolded plans, leading students through creative exercises and games can be fun and generate focus, technique, and music literacy on a deeper level while preparing your students for the repertoire in the next concert. 

For example, if you’re performing a composition in a ⅝ time signature and this meter is less familiar to your ensemble, create an exercise as part of a warmup. Here are nine steps to consider: 

1. Begin by setting a metronome or sequencer app to represent the time signature.  

2. Include a drone to provide an aural guide. 

3. Establish a 3+2 or 2+3 grouping, as found in the piece, to reinforce the feel.  

4. Sing or play simple rhythms on a single pitch from the composition in call and response fashion.  

5. As the students gain comfort with the meter and the simpler rhythms, add another pitch within the key of the piece and gradually increase the rhythmic complexity. 

6. For students needing a mental break or to differentiate instruction, have them articulate the first note of each grouping with the metronome or simply contribute to the drone. 

7. As the process continues, you may wish to add more pitches to the exercise, appoint leaders to provide the call for others to respond, and have students contribute their own games. 

8. As students gain comfort with this process, divide the ensemble into different fixed ostinatos. 

9. Encourage students to improvise over these ostinatos and the drone with a fixed set of pitches and rhythms from earlier in the exercise. 

Experiment and have fun! The benefits of these short exercises are immense and the students will relate to the game-like approach, gain comfort with group risk-taking, and thrive on the positive reinforcement. With each exercise, your students are able to experience different approaches to music-making in a structured, guided session of creativity, certain to enhance the re-creative skills needed in the large ensemble performance setting.  

 

--The above was written for a NAfME emailing for November, 2021.

 

Flowerpot Music!

FAQ/Information

Must I be a percussionist or be able to read music? 

No! Anyone can participate, regardless of musical experience.

Does it cost to participate?

No cost at all! Make Music Day began in France in 1982 as a free celebration of music and is accessible to all.

I don't have a mallet but I do have a flowerpot. Can I still join?

Absolutely. I'll plan to bring mallets of all types to work with your flowerpot.

I'd like to participate but do not have access to a flowerpot. What should I do?

No worries! Be sure to include this information in your registration and I'll gladly provide a flowerpot.

How do I select the best flowerpot?

Check out the video below for tips.

Where is Pt. Defiance Park and/or the Rose Garden?

Pt. Defiance Park is the crown jewel of Metro Parks Tacoma and on the northern tip of Tacoma. The Rose Garden is located near the entrance. Visit this link for more information.

What will happen at the rehearsal?

We will learn the gestures and moves together. Notecards and pens will be available to jot down notes and cues. To emphasize, this piece is a lot of fun and doesn't require precise execution. You can literally follow the leader.

How long is the performance?

We will take part in the world premiere of this piece but each performance will be unique. The performance may be anywhere between 15 and 30 minutes in length.

Can I invite others to listen?

Please do! The more people in the Rose Garden to enjoy the process, the better. 

What should I wear?

We'll be outside and moving about the space in the beautiful Point Defiance Rose Garden. Please dress comfortably and for the weather.

Will this event be COVID-safe? 

We will follow the CDC recommendations on that date for outdoor gatherings and will maintain a minimum of six feet of distance between participants.

What should I bring?

I'd suggest a backpack, water, a rain jacket (we can use the gazebo if there's heavy rain), sunglasses, a mask if you'd like (we will be outside and spaced apart, but please do what makes you most comfortable), and relaxed, comfortable outdoor clothing. And of course, a flowerpot and mallet if you have access!

Where can I learn more about Make Music Day and/or the composer of Flowerpot Music?

Visit this site to learn more!

 

video link for selecting your instrument

Helpful videos about the piece will be added below throughout the week!

Music of the Americas Project Live Performance 1/20/20 

02/16/2020

The Music of the Americas Project 

The Music of the Americas Project is a 15-member ensemble at Adams State University.

Click here for our Colorado Music Educators Association Conference (CMEA) program

Music of the Americas Project Performances, January 20-25, 2020: 

January 20th Adams State University, Alamosa, CO 

January 21st Buena Vista High School, Buena Vista, CO 

January 22nd Denver School of the Arts, Denver, CO 

Littleton High School, Littleton, CO 

January 23rd Fountain-Fort Carson High School, Fountain, CO 

January 24th Palmer…

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01/17/2020

PASIC 2019 Presentation 

PASIC Lightning Session B

November 16, 2019, 3pm-3:50pm

Room 201

Indianapolis, Indiana

 

Presentation Resources:

 

Woman-Identifying Percussion Ensemble Composer Database:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1omcWh2w_seOUX8_xD_hKDcvHcVTvbIN9nmwtXQ3B6Eo/edit?usp=sharing

 

“Portable” Percussion Ensemble Database:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1l9LqHDYeeC_JNrrtRhFBJSq5FVPPTN_FCjn3yxqVS90/edit?usp=sharing

 

Composers:

Gemma Peacocke

https://www.gemmapeacocke.com/

 

inti figgis-vizueta

https://www.…

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11/14/2019

ASU Fall 2019 Percussion Extravaganza 

 

Join the Live Stream here at 6:50pm MST.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpusuQBRvowFlfWkXw9iUnQ/live

Program info below!

 

 

Click here for program information:

11.12.19_Percussion_Extravaganza.pdf

 

Program Notes:

Tonight marks a return to the Percussion Extravaganza concept of our percussion concerts. What this means for you as audience members is the opportunity to enjoy a sampling of what defines Adams State Percussion all at one time in one place. First and foremost, we value collaboration and…

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11/11/2019

ASU Spring 2019 Percussion Ensemble: To Give You Form and Breath 

 

Live Stream Here! 

Director’s Note:

 

The Spring 2019 academic semester began with a percussion ensemble clinic/performance at the Colorado Music Educators Association Conference (CMEA) at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs on the topic of portable “backpack” percussion works. The students on stage this evening are composing a collection of beginner to intermediate works for portable percussion to be available this summer. This project is for directors and students to have affordable and accessible…

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04/27/2019

Apricity Trio CD Release Concerts 

Two CD release concerts coming up with Apricity Trio--both benefitting student and faculty exchange between Gunma University, Japan, and Adams State University, Colorado.

Join us in Alamosa, CO

or 

Santa Fe, NM!

Read more about us here

 

 

01/30/2019

Works for Portable Percussion, Volume One 

In an effort to make chamber percussion music more accessible to all, the Adams State Percussion Studio is embarking on a multi-year project to create several volumes of works for “portable” percussion ensemble. Young percussionists, regardless of socio-economic factors, rehearsal space availability, and instrument inventory should have the opportunity to rehearse and perform works written solely for percussion. This project intends to address the needs of percussionists of all levels and add to the…

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01/27/2019

CMEA 2019: FUNdamentals, Portable Percussion, and Chamber Music 

Below are links to pdf's pertaining to three of my clinics for the 2019 Colorado Music Educator's Conference at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Also below is a database link for percussion ensemble works that fit in a backpack (or close to it!).  Check back frequently for updates, share, and feel free to add to the list.

Please feel free to email me with any questions!

Plays Well with Others

"Practical Applications for Chamber Music in Your Band Program"

Clinic Handout

 

Snare Drum FUNdamentals Clinic

…

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01/23/2019

ASU Fall Percussion Ensemble Presents: "Affinity" 

The Adams State University Percussion Ensemble Presents:

 

“Affinity”

 

Director’s Note:

Programming for ensembles should carry a heavy burden. Asking students to commit untold hours of individual preparation, sectional rehearsals, instrument building, mallet selection, full ensemble rehearsals, research, recording sessions, and post production work for a single performance requires consideration worthy of their education and artistic growth. As an educator, I first consider the individual students…

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11/11/2018

What Does Your Programming Say About Your Ethos? 

 

 

If you see a problem, engage to find solutions.

 

A few months ago, I was casually perusing social media over my morning coffee. It was the height of the fall semester “concert season" in academia and numerous concert programs were being posted by directors of percussion ensembles, wind bands, and the like.

A quick calculation of the composers represented—38. Of those composers, 38 were male. Of the 38, 37 were white males.

 

Did this come as a surprise?

 

An examination of Steve Weiss's catalogue of…

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02/03/2018

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James W. Doyle 2022

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