Submitted by Jamie Kasper, Kristi Keast, Bonnie Lomax, & Gwen Fitzgerald, several

Idea posted January 24, 2005

  • Who is the greatest musical influence on your life?
  • Do you plan to continue playing your instrument in high school? Beyond? Why or why not?
  • What is the hardest thing for you to do on your instrument?

-Jamie Kasper from York Springs, PA

  • What is your favorite musical memory?
  • Name your favorite holiday song and a memory that goes with it.
  • Is it fair for performers to lip sync or pretend to play when you have paid for the tickets?

-Kristi Keast from Mount Vernon, IA

  • You are trying to convince a new 5th grade band student to choose your instrument. What do you tell him/her?
  • You are the new band teacher. What will you tell your students the first day of class?
  • Your band is going on tour. Where are you going, and who are you going to play for?

-Bonnie Lomax from Hugoton, KS

Play a piece for them and have the students respond to it. You could prompt them with questions like:

  • What colors/images do you see?
  • How do you think the composer was feeling?
  • What does it remind you of or make you think of?
  • What do you think it represents?
-Gwen Fitzgerald