Artifact Description:
The following artifact is a video of a trumpet trio performed by myself and student teaching colleagues from
River Valley high school during my student teaching. This piece was performed in between the choral and band
sections of the Fall concert. The band director, choir director and myself all play trumpet and considering we
worked in close proximity with many of the same students, we collaborated on many parts of teaching and
learning. On several occasions, I would go play with the band during rehearsal or pep bands for the dual purpose
of helping out the trumpet section as well as getting the opportunity to watch how Mr. Snow directs. I also
witnessed my cooperating teacher as she was asked to direct the band while its director took his son to the
doctor. This ensemble performance showed the students and community that the band and choir programs are
very connected.
As a prospective educator I found this experience, and ones like it as far as collaboration, to be
very rewarding and fulfilling for not only myself, but fellow educators, students and their
families. I heartily recommend getting up in front of a whole student body to make yourself
known as a teacher who wants to be involved and is willing to put themselves out there for the
purpose of school spirit and the like. Let the record show that I take time with individuals to
get to know them and find ways to show I care (try to relate), but also jump into community
and school district opportunities to connect in bigger ways (this helps me relate to students in
sports, music, popular and unpopular, just by my being approachable because they remember
me).