Orchestra Archives - Off the Beaten Path

Showcasing the Musical Journey through Digital Portfolios

ByTheresa Hoover June 29, 2023June 29, 2023

Digital portfolios have revolutionized various industries, and the world of music education is no exception. Traditionally, music classes have focused on performance-based assessments, leaving minimal room for comprehensive evaluation and holistic growth. However, digital portfolios offer a transformative medium for students to showcase their progress, creativity, and musical journeys. Why Incorporate Digital Portfolios in Music …

Band | Orchestra

The Beginning Instrumental Informance

ByTheresa Hoover June 27, 2023June 27, 2023

June 2023: This blog post was updated! The first performance for beginning instrumentalists is a topic frequently debated. Some believe it should take place as soon as possible, in as little as eight weeks, while others think beginners should not perform until the end of the school year when the group is more “polished.” I…

Band | Orchestra | Technology

Apps for Beginning Band and Orchestra

ByTheresa Hoover December 18, 2022December 31, 2022

Updated December 2022 This post has gotten a much-needed update! It’s no secret; I am a fan of technology in education. In my last two teaching positions, all students had school-issued iPads. I enjoyed using the iPads with my band students and have found several apps that work well in this setting. While I would…

Band | Orchestra | Technology

Using Flip (Flipgrid) in Instrumental Music

ByTheresa Hoover July 6, 2022July 8, 2022

Updated July 2022 They’ve done it again! I first wrote about using Flipgrid in music classes in January 2018. Since that time, the tool has gone through several amazing updates and this most recent round is no exception. The biggest change is a new name: Flipgrid is now Flip! There’s a new name, a new…

Band | Orchestra | Technology

Using Google Slides in Music

ByTheresa Hoover March 29, 2022June 20, 2022

March 2022 – This post has gotten a much-deserved update! It’s no secret that I love all things Google. There are so many fabulous tools within Google Workspace for Education, and they seem to get better every day. One of the most versatile tools is Google Slides. I’ve called Slides my “island tool” – if…

Band | Empowered Music Students | Orchestra

Five Ideas to Try After a Concert

ByTheresa Hoover December 6, 2021December 2, 2022

December 2021 – This post has gotten a much-deserved update! Several links were added to make the ideas even more actionable. Good luck, and have fun! We’re seeing a lot of posts on social media about what to do after a concert, what to do during testing, and even, what to do when your students…

Band | Orchestra

Thanksgiving Concert: A Fun Project for Instrumentalists

ByTheresa Hoover November 22, 2021November 16, 2023

November 2021 – this post has been updated! Check out some new ideas on how to complete this project. I started doing the Thanksgiving Concert project a few years ago with my band and orchestra students. While I don’t believe in giving “homework” over long breaks, it is great when students can still play their…

Band | Orchestra

Conversational Solfege – But Can They Read Music?

ByTheresa Hoover August 28, 2019April 17, 2022

This post is a few months overdue, but as the sayings go, “better late than never” and “better published than perfect!” Previously, I wrote about a new (to me) method I was incorporating with my beginning band and orchestra students, Conversational Solfege. The Conversational Solfege method is based on the concept, sound before sight. Students…

Band | Creativity | Orchestra

The Snowball Fight – A Music Composition Strategy

ByTheresa Hoover May 28, 2019May 11, 2022

A few weeks ago, I mentioned a music composition strategy I tried with my beginning instrumental music students called a “snowball fight.” It’s commonly used in academic classes, but was the perfect fit for music writing as well! Yes, I realize it’s the end of May and almost summer vacation, but this is a great…

Band | Empowered Music Students | Orchestra

Five More Ideas to Try After a Concert

ByTheresa Hoover May 8, 2019August 31, 2022

Last year around this time I shared the post, Five Ideas to Try After a Concert. That post was one of the top-read in 2018, inspiring me to add five more fun activities. While the title says “after a concert,” in reality, you do not have to wait. They would be great for anytime you…