Over all, my first middle school teaching experience with fifth grade percussion was extremely positive. While I was initially nervous to have someone as experienced as my particular instructor observing my first teaching episode with the students especially because percussion is one of my weaker areas of instrumental instruction, I was also extremely lucky to have someone who has been teaching for many years that could offer me very valuable advice and constructive criticism.
With this being said, I thought that the lesson went very well and was, overall, successful. I was complimented on keeping good pacing throughout the lesson and a continuous flow, and all of the material was covered in the ten minutes that I was allowed to have teaching. Further, the problem areas that needed to be covered, such as certain measures with difficult crossovers between hands in the mallet parts, were effectively isolated.
However, as any regular performer, I was often buried in the music just out of habit, despite the fact that I know very well how the tune to "Jingle Bells" goes. Next time, I will work to keep the students engaged by moving around the room and reading from the student's music if necessary.
As a whole, I am glad that this experience was so positive, and I am looking forward to working with the students this coming week. It was especially rewarding to have had some of the students ask if I was coming back next week because they "liked me", as well as having my instructor say that he "doesn't usually write so many positive things down" in an observation. Hopefully, they will continue to enjoy and learn from my teaching as I incorporate all of the constructive criticism I have received for next week and all other future teaching episodes.
You are doing a good job. Keep working to improve each week.
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