Mr. Toolen

Music Educator at South Primary
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2012 BM, SIUE
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This is my work account; private personal handle: @emptyqbd

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

A student, asked to name a patriotic song, tried to Rickroll me. (All in good fun! I mentioned to him that he knows the rules, and so do I)

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

New instrument day! I was really impressed with @WWBWdotcom 's customer support getting this order in. Can't wait to get students safely in so they can make some amazing music with these!

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

I love score study, if not only for little nuggets of joy like this. The crazy part: it's actually very accurate

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

Had a great YT Live Sing-Along with South and Central students. Missed it? You can still watch it here: https://t.co/2KTaPDeKy2

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

South Music Sing-Along
Friday, December 18
9:30 a.m.

Come sing along and have some fun!

https://t.co/vDwEL2tFpI

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

It's not super fancy, but I'm having some fun making things happen for my remote students and the others outside of my pod

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

With creative acts, we want to give credit to students that put in the work but not box them in so much that a good work can be labeled as less-than. Do you think this is within that happy medium? What else might I be missing?

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

Staring down early elementary composition success criteria... How would you grade a kindergartener or first grader's musical work? Would love some feedback/"yes you're not crazy" #musiced #musiceducation

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

I have down in rubric-y language that the student's work should:
♩have musical substance (i.e. got some meat on it)
♩can be performed realistically
♩is recorded visually/aurally

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

@KrisenaComposes definitely feeling this. honestly started considering my career (music ed) as 'those who can't, teach' and now I know that couldn't be further from the truth

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

@MsNystedtMusic Ours sent frankly vague stuff out Friday. Putting on brave faces until I figure out what I'm personally doing during the school day. Same here, deep breaths

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

Recording brass parts for school...

✓ practice parts multiple times
✓ space seats apart for "clone" effect
✓ wear different shirts for each take
✓ mix parts to bring out melody and blend
□ tune instruments

...

✓ repeat all steps an hour later...

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

I don't expect these to change the world, but I don't want to overwhelm families that already have enough to worry about. If I can brighten up two or three minutes of that and not be a burden, I feel like I'm doing okay by them.

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

So I've been trying out recorded mini-lessons in earnest the last few weeks. It's been... a learning experience, and pushes me past my comfort zone (in a good way) in things like recording, mixing, sharing.

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

And first grade did a unit on sound production, so now we're looking at pitch manipulation on a game show, The Tones They Are a-Changin': https://t.co/9y5cskcb1x

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

Need a long tones exercise, quarantined wind musician?

1 - make toddlers pizza rolls
2 - cut in half
3 - blow
3a - keep blowing
3b - blow again, still too hot
3c - keep blowing are you even trying

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

I do Joan Petit with my kiddos! Missing everyone @SouthPrimary

[StanceGrounded @_SJPeace_]

The Police in Mallorca, Spain making rounds around villages on lock down to do this 😭

To alleviate the anxiety of the people and to keep them entertained ❤

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

Similarly, this is how I had to explain pickup notes to my fifth grade band

[Mr. Toolen @MrToolen]

In a seminar today, presenter:

"Writing bassline"

Alright!

"Writing baseline evidence statements"

Aw.