Instrumental Applications for Conversational Solfege

Instrumental Applications for Conversational Solfege
Marguerite Wilder and Kevin Boyle
Saturday, July 26th – 1:30 – 2:30 PM – Session I

Lessons will be presented that show how to teach the many different instruments (flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, horns, trombones, baritones, tubas and percussion) which are pitched in different keys, using different letter names and different fingering patterns at the same time. Using the structure found in Conversational Solfege, your students will be in familiar territory with the same rhythm patterns, the same tonal (solfege) patterns and the same songs that were learned on recorder and general music classes.

Participants will be able to incorporate the 12 Steps of Conversational solfege into Beginning Band Classes by using a literature based driven method. Learn how the functionality of movable “do” allows the students to transfer the tonal patterns syllables learned with the recorder and general music songs pitched in “G” do to those same sequential songs found in Band using a “Bb” do tonal center.

By understanding the component parts of music and the relationships that exist between melody, rhythm, harmony and form your instrumental music students will be able to sing and play with musical understanding.

Marguerite WilderMarguerite Wilder is widely recognized as a conductor and clinician, having conducted All State and Honor Bands through out the United States, Canada, England, Italy, Turkey and Australia.   Serving as a resource person for in-service sessions, she works with both local and regional school systems and universities.  Her clinics on Motivational Techniques for the Beginning Band are often featured at state and national conventions. Mrs. Wilder is a contributing editor for the books:  Do It! Play Recorder and Do It Band Method by James Froseth; Habits of a Successful Musician by Scott Rush:  GIA Publications, Inc.  She is a writer for Teaching Music through Performance in Beginning Band, Vol. 1 & 2: Teaching Music through Performance in Middle School Band GIA Publications, Inc.  Currently Mrs. Wilder serves as a consultant, clinician, author and editor for GIA Publications, Inc. She is the executive director of the Feierabend Association for Music Educators.

Kevin Boyle is beginning his tenth year of teaching instrumental music and his fifth year as the Director of Bands at Pickens County Middle School in Jasper GA. The band program consists of 6th grade band, 7th and 8th grade concert band, 7th and 8th grade honor band, jazz band, percussion ensemble, and chamber groups.   Ensembles under Mr. Boyle’s direction have received superior ratings at the Georgia Music Educators Association’s annual Large Group Performance Evaluation Mr. Boyle is an active clinician, presenting at the GMEA In-Service Conference in 2009 and at the District 9 All-District Band in 2010. He is currently a member of the Cobb Wind Symphony; an adult community band in Marietta, GA, and has extensive experience in percussion performance in both the concert and marching venues. Mr. Boyle is a member of National Association for Music Education, Georgia Music Educators Association, the National Band Association, and the Percussive Arts Society.