When no one will shut up...

[trombonemeister]

My band director is having a baby, so we have a temporary teacher right now. She just got her degree, and is a little soft-spoken. She knows her stuff, and is a really good teacher, but no one in my band will listen to her! I don't know what to do, because it is really annoying. Everybody slacks off all the time, never cut off with the teacher, and always talk through her instructions! My band would never dare do anything this disrespectful with my real band director- how do I help them realize that she deserves respect, too? Help!

[zirbo]

I'm sort of in the same situation with our assistant band director, except for the fact that she doesn't play a wind instrument, and can't really teach...but anyways, no one listens to her, basically the same thing going on with your temporary teacher. The best thing might be to just set a good example, listen, be quiet, and when she's talking and other people are you can just tell them, hey be quiet! If they ask why, tell them she's a teacher, she deserves respect, and she knows what she's talking about and how to teach.

You could also through a guilt trip in there, ask them if they want their band to be good or not...that could work.

Hope this helps some! It's nice that there's break now so you have time to think about it, and maybe the people in your band will change their attitudes toward her.

[Deleted]

Find the loudest person in your band, and get them to yell. But that only works max once per rehearsal.

[fluttietuttie]

You need to stand up for her in class.
Just one day raise your hand like you have a question, stand up, and address the class.
They may think, "Um, ok, who cares?" but at least you can try. I know I've done that before. I was in choir, and we had to practice a song right before we went on cuz all these girls wouldn't shut up while we practiced so it sounded terrible. And they were doing it as we were praticing so I was just like, "Could you please be quiet? Your the reason we're still doing this before the concert." And they shut up real fast.

[nphsdm]

It doesn't help if the sub is soft-spoken, old, or doesn't know what they're doing.

Once we had a sub who scared the living crap out of us... he marched drum corps, in the navy (I think) and is an AMAZING trumpet player... we were talking in horn arc and he flipped. Suffice to say, we shut up.

[~*Not~a~Stalker~*]

I agree with The Horn, it's really up to the teacher. I know it's hard, but she's going to have to take control. My mom is a teacher, and I saw the transformation she made; going from the quiet, young teacher to the hard as crap, gonna get things done. It's just something that has to happen, and it's a lot harder if they start off quiet.
To help, I would suggest telling her that you really like her teaching style, or something that she said that day in class, etc.

[altoclarinets]

Dec 23, 2008 12:54:27 GMT -5 nphsdm said:

Once we had a sub who scared the living crap out of us... he marched drum corps, in the navy (I think) and is an AMAZING trumpet player... we were talking in horn arc and he flipped. Suffice to say, we shut up.

talesfrombandcamp.com/cgi-bin/tfbcarchive.cgi?date=19991114

[1frodos1]

When you get really fed up go find the flute player and ask them to play the really high C, Nothin shuts people up like bleeding ear drums

[yummiebears]

A lot of it does have to do with the teacher. My band director always gets this one sub that we never listen to and everyone switches instruments and the whole nine yards. (Most kids actually get their parents to call them out on those days). We also have this other band director. She teaches 2 days a week for another school district (I think). She speaks quietly, is sorta new out of college. Amazingly, everyone listens and tries when she is there. Teaching, I think, is something that is innate. People will either listen to you or not. But perhaps you should have a meeting with all of the band members without the sub. Talk about how even though you have a sub, you stilll have a concert in ____ amount of time.

[Duel of the Flutes]

Dec 28, 2008 1:15:03 GMT -5 1frodos1 said:

When you get really fed up go find the flute player and ask them to play the really high C, Nothin shuts people up like bleeding ear drums

This is even more entertaining on piccolo.

It sounds to me like she just needs to earn the respect and total attention of the class. If you can, try to get people to listen in the ways one would normally go about it. If you can't, get someone else to do it. Also, do ask her if there's anything you can do to help. Maybe she'll have some ideas that she just hasn't put into use yet!

[hansel2011]

I would just set a really good example. Soon everyone will listen and soon one by one everyone will be following your example!! Just keep hanging on!

[piccolo + ADD = fun]

I think it also depends on the size of the band. If You're under 100 people, it's a bit easier to control as opposed to over 100. She just needs to gain control, but that also comes with respect. If all else fails, get her a jet-scream whistle. You know, those little flat black ones...or an airhorn. Those usually work pretty well for instant silence.

[yummiebears]

I had another random idea which probably won't help. Here it is anyways... xD
On the board, create a countdown of rehearsals till the next performance to remind kids that the time that you guys have tdo work together is limited. It is sort of a reality check that despite the fact that the concrt/festival seems ages away, it will eventually come.