On Monday October 2 and 9, the Bellwood-Antis band program started a partnership with the Penn State School of Music where PSU students came in and did their pre-student teaching experience with the middle school ensembles. Overall, twelve PSU students and two professors, Dr. Linda Thornton and Dr. Jacob Holster, came to Bellwood.
The collaboration between Bellwood and PSU came about last year when B-A hosted Blair County Junior High Band. The guest conductor at the time, PSU professor Dr. Micki Ferguson, brought a group of college students to lead small group learning sessions with the festival participants. Now, that same group came to further their educational journey.
In the group of PSU students, one of the twelve will be completing his student teaching here at Bellwood-Antis in the spring.
During the rehearsal on the 2nd, 5-6th grade band rehearsed first where they worked with two of the PSU students. Although the PSU students had never worked with students of that age before, they adapted quickly and taught the middle school members a lot. After, 7-8th grade rehearsed with three different PSU students.
The rehearsal on the 9th is scheduled for 7-8th grade band first and 5-6th grade last. Different PSU students will be taking turns on the podium this time.
According to Mr. Sachse, the director of the 4-12 band program at Bellwood, “The experience of having college students with the middle school bands was one the kids will never forget.”
