diversity experiences
Chicago 2015
The University of Mary takes a tour each year with the band and choir to different surrounding areas. On this trip, we had the experience of being in an all male and all female schools. When performing in the choir, the reactions of each school to see a combined gender ensemble was interesting. They got to experience what an ensemble of male and female voices were capable of producing. When we got to play with the all male school's band is where I got a chance to help the students. We performed for them and got to work with their band with their music. We also got the opportunity to work with their jazz band in which I was able to work one-on-one with the students to help them read the music better or help them understand their instrument even more.
Canada 2015
The University decided to make a tour for the Jazz Band, Vocal Jazz, and the Steel Band to reach out to more students in which we had even more opportunity to work on a one-on-one basis. At each location we had the chance to talk with the students who played in our instruments and answer questions that they had. Not only did we talk about the differences of a college ensemble to high school ensemble, but cultural differences too. At one stop we got the chance to meet a University of Mary alumna who was the director of bands along with a dozen of students who were on their off-hour. One unique event that happened in every school we visited was that they sang their national anthem. It wasn't always a band performing the song, but sometimes a rock band, pop band, or even the schools own jazz/concert ensemble over the loud speaker. It was nice to see how the school could get the students involved in different ways.
The University of Mary takes a tour each year with the band and choir to different surrounding areas. On this trip, we had the experience of being in an all male and all female schools. When performing in the choir, the reactions of each school to see a combined gender ensemble was interesting. They got to experience what an ensemble of male and female voices were capable of producing. When we got to play with the all male school's band is where I got a chance to help the students. We performed for them and got to work with their band with their music. We also got the opportunity to work with their jazz band in which I was able to work one-on-one with the students to help them read the music better or help them understand their instrument even more.
Canada 2015
The University decided to make a tour for the Jazz Band, Vocal Jazz, and the Steel Band to reach out to more students in which we had even more opportunity to work on a one-on-one basis. At each location we had the chance to talk with the students who played in our instruments and answer questions that they had. Not only did we talk about the differences of a college ensemble to high school ensemble, but cultural differences too. At one stop we got the chance to meet a University of Mary alumna who was the director of bands along with a dozen of students who were on their off-hour. One unique event that happened in every school we visited was that they sang their national anthem. It wasn't always a band performing the song, but sometimes a rock band, pop band, or even the schools own jazz/concert ensemble over the loud speaker. It was nice to see how the school could get the students involved in different ways.