On Friday, March 3, Kathleen Ehlinger and the Guilderland High School Wind Ensemble presented a clinic in addition to a concert performance at the 2023 New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA) annual symposium held in Syracuse.
Well-attended and well-received by band directors from across NYS, the clinic was entitled “Collaborative Rehearsal in the Traditional Band Setting” and outlined a technique for a large group rehearsal. A collaborative rehearsal takes ownership for running the rehearsal from the director and confers it onto the player, thereby charging students to become partners. Deeply engaging the musicians with the music and one another, this rehearsal process allows students to gain a better understanding of a full score and cultivate deeper relationships within the ensemble. This technique can foster the development of critical life skills in students, such as confidence, patience, leadership and effective communication.
Congratulations to Kathleen Ehlinger and the students in the GHS Wind Ensemble on this exceptional honor.
