Welcome, and welcome back! My name is Erin Barnard and I teach strings at Savanna Oaks Middle School in Fitchburg, WI. Right now summer is in full swing and I'm writing this entry as I am starting to reorganize our classroom and get instruments, music and folders ready for the new school year. Yep, it's early, but I'm looking forward to it! I've been enjoying the wonderful summer weather and being in Madison for the first summer in awhile after finishing grad school last year. I'm growing some great cherry tomatoes on my balcony, enjoying the lakes, and all of the summer events like Concerts on the Square and Atwood Festival. I play fiddle in a bluegrass band and we've been playing lots of summer gigs too! If you are also starting to think about getting ready for the school year ...click here to find out what your child needs for Orchestra. New students are probably wondering what my teaching style is like and if they will enjoy working with me. I have high standards for behavior and work ethic (students have to at least try) but I also love to joke around and have a good time while we work together. We will establish our classroom routines and rules together at the start of the year and we'll hold each other to it. I like to be student centered and facilitate student choice whenever possible. Especially with older students I like to involve them in choosing pieces and making some class decisions. For younger students I like to find games and playful ways to work on skills and improve. Last year we had a lot of fun with narwhals, field trips, Fiddle Club, and playing some great music! (Hint hint...The Incredibles 2 came out this summer...it was SO FUN!). So...hopefully everyone will enjoy our time together and learn a lot this year. I posted my professional bio on the About page...but we'll get to know each other better as the year goes on. That bio is mostly the boring stuff about me. The interesting stuff - I live in Madison and I am married but we don't have any kids. My husband is a grad student at UW-Madison in Computer Science. I am not a picky eater but I especially like spicy food and coffee. My favorite color is orange and my favorite animal is the narwhal. For fun I like to read, knit, and run or bike. I listen to lots of different types of music - mostly folk, pop, and indie, but also classical. I grew up in Wisconsin further North in Eau Claire and started playing viola in 5th grade in public school Orchestra...and I just never left. Working with students and teaching the world through music is a joy, an honor, and a great adventure for me. I also play fiddle in the band Soggy Prairie and conduct Opus One for Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras.
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Spanish Translation:Erin BarnardI teach orchestra at Savanna Oaks and write this blog to help keep everyone up-to-date on our classroom. Read more about me/us on the About page. ArchivesCategories |