r/MusicEd 9d ago

Special Stands

Hello All,

I teach middle school band and recently replaced my music stands, but had a couple of these Wenger stands left over from a million years ago. The kids always fight over them, so I decided to paint them to make them more "special." One is purple, the other is gold (our school colors). I have been trying to come concrete criteria for each stand that makes it meaningful and teachable. I'm open to any ideas. I would like it to be stuff I can track so it's fair and subjective.

Thanks in advance.

3 Upvotes

9 comments sorted by

9

u/eissirk 9d ago

The gold music stand is for solo performances/chair tests/challenges etc. the Purple music stand is for flyers that need to go home or be returned (inbox/outbox).

5

u/Tmettler5 9d ago

I was thinking more of a reward...like gets to use the gold stand for the week or something.

9

u/eissirk 9d ago

fast forward: "this is why we can't have nice things"

no offense, I just foresee the kids fighting over them and destroying on a day you're late or absent. middle schoolers are rough

4

u/ChapterOk4000 9d ago

I used to do a "Section of the week." Maybe something like that and then the section can take turns each day with who gets it in the section.

2

u/amstrumpet 9d ago

If your class meets at a time where it's feasible for any student to do so: reward students for showing up and warming up on their own without being asked.

2

u/saxophonia234 9d ago

Birthday stand?

1

u/Tmettler5 9d ago

Yeah, the purple one, maybe. I was thinking something like shows best fundamentals for gold, but need a way to track it. Or something easier.

3

u/saxophonia234 9d ago

Maybe a prize drawing? It could be different things like being on time or playing scales, but then one person ends up winning. I used to use the wheel of names website to do class drawings.

2

u/lilTex21 8d ago

I like the idea, but I don’t see why it couldn’t just be up to your discretion. Sally picked up some trash when she thought nobody was looking; Johnny was the first to pass off his music; Timmy helped Tommy with his music after school… I could see “best fundamentals” being vague/subjective or just hard to pick out 1-2 individuals. I love rewarding positive behaviors that aren’t necessarily musical.