The counties where Sus and John teach are meeting the thresholds to open schools, so this week we grapple with what performing arts courses look like without rehearsal in preparation for students in the classroom, some students still online and the current guidelines in CA that preclude instrumental or choral rehearsals.

S7E5 Recorded 9.27.2020 

This week we sat down with our friend Patrick about his work opening West Park High School as their band director. He discusses the opportunities of starting a new program, and the challenges of doing so during distance learning in a pandemic.

S7E4 Recorded 9.20.2020

This week, we discuss the challenges we're continuing to face in our digital teaching and share ideas for engaging and meaningful lessons for our students in a remote teaching environment.

S7E3 Recorded September 13, 2020

Welcome Back, for real this time. First Family Episode of Season 7 with Veronica. We debrief our first few weeks of teaching and discuss dipping our toes into digital in this new normal.

S7E2 Recorded 9.6.2020

Welcome Back! We're opening our seventh season with an interview with Messrs. Jonathan Grantham and Patrick Dandrea from Amador Valley High School. They have been doing extensive work in maintaining an ensemble program in a digital environment, and recently hosted a directors band to showcase their ideas as a launching point for other teachers. 

That Presentation can be found here:

• YouTube Live Link
• Session Slide Deck
  • There are some additional strategies for solfege and rhythm reading included at the end of the deck.
• Additional Resources
  • Overview videos we've used for students, some asynchronous projects, and planning template documents.

Recorded 8/30/2020