Rite of String Rite of String

Hello everyone!
So sorry to be away for so long.  This mini-episode will give you a quick update on Rite of String, and also points you towards Kevin's side project called SluderMusic.  We love you and thank you for all your support.
The music in the background of this episode is "No Place Like Home" (Kevin Sluder), available at www.canerivermusic.com. 

In this episode, we speak with Geoff Golden about his decision to explore employment opportunities outside of teaching and look back on his time as an educator.

Most of us spend our days educating young people on how to play string instruments.  But, what about those that teach US how to teach those students?
 
Dr. Elizabeth Whitehead Chappell, the current string education professor at the University of North Texas, sits down to talk with us about how she got into the profession, how to get others into the profession, and the steps she’s taking to help those without string backgrounds be successful in the orchestra classroom.

When you are in charge of your own program, there is often flexibility in developing your own curriculum. Alongside the typical expectations in what you teach are many opportunities to expand the musical styles your students are exposed to.
 
Anna Macias talks to us about her background and how she's incorporated her personal interests into creating the Lake Travis Fiddlers.

As the summer comes to a close, many of us are starting to plan and map out our brand new school year. How we set up our day-to-day teaching environment can greatly affect our outcomes of success.
Rebecca Farrar, a director from Plano, TX, sits down with us to discuss the various ways in which she organizes her orchestra program to maximize student focus and learning.

Based on the Giving Bach model created by Richard Meyer, Downing Gives Bach is a full-inclusion curriculum developed for both general education students and those enrolled in special education classes at Downing Middle School in Flower Mound, TX.
The orchestra director Bethany Hardwick and special education department head Jennifer Rodgers sit down with us to describe their journey in teaming up and creating a classroom environment where all students can learn to enjoy, appreciate and perform music.