# data[].attributes.body
Hi! My name is Sierra Price, and I'm a freshman Music Education (Instrumental) major at Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers!). I'm a member of the Tiger Band trombone section as well as Bengal Brass. This is my first semester in MuEd, and I'm super excited!
I'm from Thibodaux, LA. I  discovered my love for music at Central Lafourche High School, where I curated my passion and drive to be a musician. I think the biggest factor in my decision to become a music educator is how much music has formed me into the person I am today. Through all the opportunities music has given me, I realized how much I wanted to give the same experiences to my students someday. I want to give back as much as music has given to me. I hope to obtain my Masters Degree and maybe one day my PhD!
Some of other interests include bullet journaling, writing, listening to music, being outside, and hanging out with my friends!

# data[].attributes.body
just a little bit of the happiness in my life! <3

# data[].attributes.headline
how to take care of your mental health as a student!

# data[].attributes.subject
how to take care of your mental health as a student!

# data[].attributes.body
(direct instruction - nonmusical)

Being a student can be incredibly taxing and mentally draining. On top of your already piling academic responsibilities, you are having to stay ahead of your extra curricular commitments, keep up with your social life, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and deal with any personal issues you may be facing behind-the-scenes. How are you expected to do it all and not go insane? As a person who is extremely busy while also dealing with not so great mental health, here are some things that help me feel more in control of my day and life in general!

• Journal! Write your feelings down, draw random pictures, talk about things in your day/week that brought you joy, write affirmations, make grocery lists, anything! Do something to "empty your brain" so to speak. I always feel better after journaling. It really clears some of the mental clutter you accumulate through your day.

• Schedule yourself some you time, whether that be reading a book, hanging out with a friend, or anything else that you will ease your stress. It's important that despite a busy schedule, you save a bit of the day just for something YOU want to do that has nothing to do with what you're worried about.

• Talk to somebody if you're not feeling great. Trust me, bottling up your feelings because you feel like they're unimportant ultimately makes things worse. Talk to a trusted friend, family member, or therapist.

We're all human! Take care of yourself in a few small ways and you'll be surprised how much it helps.

# data[].attributes.headline
sign-ups to volunteer at local elementary school music club!

# data[].attributes.subject
sign-ups to volunteer at local elementary school music club!

# data[].attributes.body
(early childhood music)

Sign up to volunteer at our local elementary school Music Club! This club is just a simple, fun way to expose our youngest of students to the joys of music!

There will be two main activities:
• Paint What You Hear! Play fun, upbeat music for the students and they paint what they hear or however the music makes them feel.
• Instrument Arts and Crafts! Students will be taught and guided through making homemade instruments, such as a maracas, drums, or rubber band guitars.

Students who choose to sign up for this are encouraged to donate supplies such as paint, brushes, canvasses, shoeboxes, balloons, rubber bands, paper towel holders, and any other craft supplies that would be useful to these activities. (You don't have to buy anything, only donate if able.)

Attached is a flyer for the club for elementary school students interested!

# data[].attributes.body
(mindful observations -
collaborative learning)

Chamber groups are a great way to get to know yourself better as a musician, as well as closely collaborating with fellow musicians in a very exposed manner, which is something that isn't usually done in a large ensemble setting.

If you are a member of Wind Ensemble, for a grade, you will have to participate in some sort of duet, trio, or chamber group! This could be a duet/trio with others in your section (or not! You can get creative!), a brass quintet, a sax quartet, a clarinet choir, a trombone quartet, etc etc!

With whoever you decide to make your group with, you should each do your own research to find a piece for the group to play, and then meet to decide which one y'all think is best!

The band will have a Spring Chamber Concert to showcase each group's work! If you wish to do more than one piece, please let me know so I can approve.

Sign up via this Google Form!

# data[].attributes.body
(direct instruction - musical)

What is the basic, fundamental task that all musicians must do to get better? Practice!

Turns out, there's a right and wrong way to do it! Let's learn how to practice right using my 3 P's of Practicing! Or, P³!

1.   Practice!
Sometimes, the act of even initiating a practice session is a big step, especially when you're unmotivated. Set a time you're going to practice and lay out specific goals for your practice session beforehand!

2. Persistence!
In your practice, it's important to be persistent in bettering your music, along with having a consistent practice schedule versus a sporadic one. Here are some other helpful tips for persistent practice:

- Use a metronome religiously! If there's a difficult passage in your music, take it way under tempo at first, and bump it up slightly (2-4 BPM) after playing it multiple times correctly. Remember, you shouldn't speed whatever you're playing up until that tempo feels easy.
- Make your highest practice tempo higher than the goal tempo for the piece, so your goal tempo feels easier!
- Practice in chunks! 30 minutes of practicing, then a 5 minute break; 15 minutes on, 5 off, etc etc!

3. Progress!
One of the most important things to remember whenever you're practicing is that perfection, while it sounds good, is an unrealistic goal. So, instead of practice makes perfect, my motto is practice makes progress.

One way to measure your progress is videoing your practice sessions! See how you sounded now versus 2 weeks ago, 1 week ago, or even 1 day ago! If you don't hear any clear progress in your playing, that's okay! That just means it's time to reevaluate what's going on in your practice!

# data[].attributes.headline
time management seminar for band students

# data[].attributes.subject
time management seminar for band students

# data[].attributes.body
(early career music teaching)

Hi everyone!

This Wednesday before our normal marching rehearsal, we are going to have a quick meeting to talk about time management! As students, especially band students, your schedules tend to ramp up very quickly in the fall semester without much warning. We're going to talk about how to remedy your stress and ways of managing your time more efficiently! This could be anything from simply writing in a planner, mentally planning out your day while laying in bed the night before, and a number of other things!

Don't forget to fill up your water and eat earlier than usual!

# data[].attributes.headline
email from sierra price, director of bands at GTS high school

# data[].attributes.subject
email from sierra price, director of bands at GTS high school

# data[].attributes.body
(professional interactions)

To: sprice@gtshs.org
From: coacho@gtshs.org
Subject: Student Split Time for Practices

Hi Ms. Price,

I am writing this email in regards to a student we both teach. Student X made me aware of a time conflict with my football practice and the band's rehearsal. There are usually no time conflicts, but I had to move my practice due to a conflict in the football stadium Thursday. I told Student X we would talk and find a good compromise for both parties. I was wondering if they could split time with football and band, them being at football 2:45-3:30, and then band from 3:30-4:15.

Let me know if this works!

Best Regards,
Coach O

To: coacho@gtshs.org
From: sprice@gtshs.org
Subject: Re: Student Split Time for Practices

Hi Coach O!

Thanks so much for reaching out about Student X. I appreciate the effort to make a compromise! What you suggested is perfectly fine for Student X on Wednesday. They are a very dedicated student and I trust they'll handle their responsibilities well.
I wish you well on the rest of your season!

Thank you,
Sierra Price

# data[].attributes.body
(philosophy vs. advocacy)

It's easy as a student in music to get caught up in rehearsals, playing tests, practice schedules, and all the other mumbo jumbo involved with being a busy student. We all have to have a little reminder sometimes of WHY we do music, and that music is just fun sometimes!

Come after school to listen to music, learn about music outside of the classroom, and talk about all the ways music makes our lives better! (Snacks provided!)

# data[].attributes.body
(culturally relevant teaching)

This week in class, we will be discussing the various genres/styles of music outside of the classical composers we know and love. Our conversation will include but will not be limited to different music around the world, various cultures' instrumentations/arrangements of music, and more!

Throughout the week, I want each of you to pick a different area of the world and research how they utilize music in their culture! At the end of the week, you will all present your findings to the class.

Additionally, in class, I will be picking some culturally diverse pieces for us to sightread and talk about!

# data[].attributes.body
(alternative mued perspectives)

Hi all! In class this week, we will be discussing forms of music that are not the usual classical we know and love in band! Your assignment is to pick a song out of this Spotify playlist that speaks to you and have some fun!
I would like a brief, written explanation of things like what time signature you think the song is in, what makes the song unique compared to classical music in band, what musical building blocks (rhythm/melody/pitch/etc) you think were used differently versus classical rep, and/or some ideas of how you think the song creators got their inspiration for the music written!

See here for the playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Rejto0ndRDQDV1jxgSwHh

(Thank you to those in MUED 1700 for collaborating with me for all 70 hours of this playlist!)

# data[].attributes.headline
here is a terrible stock image for your amusement<3

# data[].attributes.subject
here is a terrible stock image for your amusement<3

# data[].attributes.headline
volunteer to give private lessons to middle school band students

# data[].attributes.subject
volunteer to give private lessons to middle school band students

# data[].attributes.body
(resume building)

Hi all,

If you'd like to earn the opportunity to earn some service hours, some nice resume boosters, and just an opportunity to teach those younger than you in music; come see me to talk about giving private lessons to middle schoolers to help them prepare for Honor Band Auditions!

This opportunity is mostly open to upperclassmen/students in Wind Ensemble, but no amount of help is too much! There will be a bus service everyday Thursday afternoon to one of the local middle schools (we will alternate each week).

If interested, you will be assigned to one student on your primary instrument. Myself and the middle school directors will oversee the progress!