The Orchestra Teacher Podcast

🎻 Episode #122 — The Orchestra Teacher PodcastGuests: Daryl Silberman & Matthew White, Orchestra Directors at Scullen Middle School (Naperville, IL)In this energizing episode, Dr. Charles Laux welcomes the incredible teaching duo Daryl Silberman and Matthew White, who have transformed the Scullen Middle School orchestra program through collaboration, creativity, and a deep commitment to student belonging.Daryl and Matt share how their unique team-teaching model brings out the best in both teachers and students—using humor, trust, and complementary strengths to create a vibrant, inclusive learning environment. They discuss:✨ Building a positive classroom culture✨ Their “Habits of Mind” system that fosters kindness and responsibility✨ Creating a space where every student sees themselves represented✨ Improvisation, electric strings, and developing creativity✨ Monthly “Be Curious,” “Do Something,” and “You Belong” calendars✨ Special grade-level projects and identity-based music learning✨ Innovative room setup (yes…they cut the backs off their chairs!)✨ Grant writing, technology integration, and using AI for teaching✨ The importance of trust, collaboration, and modeling artistic growthWhether you team-teach or work solo, this episode is packed with ideas you can bring into your own orchestra room—insights that will inspire your teaching and nurture student connection.🔗 Connect with Daryl and MatthewDaryl: [email protected]: [email protected]://www.instagram.com/scullenorchestra/📚 Resources:https://www.daryls.comhttps://sites.google.com/ipsd.org/mrwscullenorchestra/home#OrchestraTeacherPodcast #MusicEducation #OrchestraTeaching #StringEducation #TeamTeaching #MiddleSchoolOrchestra #MusicEd #MusicTeachers #OrchestraDirectors #StringPedagogy #CreativeTeaching #InclusiveTeaching #MusicClassroomCulture #ElectricStrings #ImprovisationInMusic #ScullenMiddleSchool #NapervilleSchools #StudentBelonging #HabitsOfMind #MusicEdLife #TeacherInspiration #EdTechInMusic #MusicEdPodcast #StringTeachers #OrchestraLife #MusicEdCommunity— REFERRAL LINKS —Looking to plan a great orchestra trip? Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning performance travel beyond expectations for more than 30 years. ⁠https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-orchestra-teacher-podcast/⁠Looking for things on Amazon?  Use my referral link:⁠https://amzn.to/3RkfRLk⁠Do you keep a monthly budget?  If not, try You Need a Budget!  It’s a great app/website that helps keep your finances on track.⁠https://tinyurl.com/TheOrchestraTeacherYNAB⁠Do you have cable?  Cut the cord and check out YouTube TV!  It works on mobile, Smart TVs, the web and more!⁠https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r22irzcuy7jshi⁠Resources and more information at ⁠www.orchestrateacher.net⁠

Orchestra Teacher Podcast, Season 2, Episode 9Krissi Davis is in her 16 thyear in education as the orchestra director at Grady High School in Atlanta Public Schools, where she is currently the 2020-21 Atlanta Public Schools Teacher of the Year. She previously taught at the middle and high school levels in Clayton and Fayette Counties. While in Clayton County, she directed the Middle School Honor Orchestra. While in Fayette County, she directed the Fayette Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Ms. Davis earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Georgia State University in 2004, and Master of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia in 2017. She is currently working toward her Ph.D. in Music Education at Georgia State University where she has served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, teaching the undergraduate String Techniques course.Orchestras under her direction consistently earn superior ratings at GMEA LGPE and have traveled and performed in numerous cities including Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Ill, Carnegie Hall in New York, NY; and the 2018 ASTA National Orchestra Festival. Students in her orchestras consistently participate in honor orchestras such as the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, and Georgia All-State Orchestra. As a member of GMEA, Ms. Davis has adjudicated GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluations in several districts, served as District 5 Orchestra Chair, and presented sessions at the 2018 and 2020 In-Service Conference. She also presented a session at the 2019 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. She has worked as a guest clinician in various capacities and maintains a private violin studio. Ms. Davis resides in Atlanta, Ga with her dogs Diggy and Russy, and in her spare time enjoys traveling.Ms. Davis can be reached at: [email protected] www.orchestrateacher.net for resources, and more information.

Dr. Frank M. Diaz is Associate Professor of Music Education at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he teaches courses on instrumental music education and teacher wellness. Diaz is a highly sought out clinician and conductor for honors, community, secondary, and collegiate orchestras, and is a frequent presenter and adjudicator for conferences, workshops, and festivals across the country. Previous to his position at Indiana, Diaz taught on the faculties of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory and the University of Oregon School of Music, and served as a public school music teacher for school districts in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Along with his work as a teacher and conductor, Diaz currently serves on the Editorial Board of the String Research Journal and Journal of Research in Music Education, and is an active member of the American String Teachers Association.Dr. Diaz can be reached at: [email protected]

Brad discusses his use of technology in teaching during the pandemic, particularly his use of loops and Soundtrap.com. Brad Pfeil received a Bachelor of Music Education and Performance degree from the University of Michigan and Master of Music Education degree from the University of Nevada Las Vegas.  He is currently an orchestra director at Neuqua Valley High School, a Grammy Award winning school in Naperville, IL. Brad taught previously in Las Vegas, Nevada where he performed actively as a double bassist in addition to teaching at Las Vegas High School, Fremont Middle School and Keller Middle School. Brad was principal double bass of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, played in Phantom, and was conductor of the Henderson Civic Symphony. He has also performed with numerous orchestras and artists including the Michigan Opera Theater, Ann Arbor Symphony, Lansing Symphony, Flint Symphony, Peoria Symphony, Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli and Styx. Brad currently performs as principal double bass of the Heartland Festival Orchestra in Washington, Il. Brad is past president of the Nevada Chapter and the Illinois Chapter of the American String Teachers Association. Brad has spent the past eight summers as a conductor at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. This will be his fourth year conducting the Blue Lake International Youth Symphony Orchestra. When not making music, you can find Brad cycling, mountain biking and hiking. Brad can be reached at [email protected] Resources: https://www.soundtrap.com #orchestra #highschool #virtuallearning #remoteteaching #looping #improvisation #soundtrap #technology

Lisa (Hopko) Loucks is in her twenty-third year as Orchestra Director at Maitland Middle School in the Orange County Public Schools centered in Orlando, Florida. Her orchestras have consistently earned superior ratings in the Florida Orchestra Association Music Performance Assessments, and have performed in Atlanta, Chicago, and New York.Originally from Chicago, Lisa grew up on the west coast of the Florida and is a graduate Manatee High School under the direction of Jim Palmer. She then earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from UCF, where her teachers included John Whitney, Lee Eubank, and Dr. Ayako Yonetani. She has served as FOA 7-8 All State Orchestra Chair, District Chair for Orange County, and is a certified adjudicator of Music Performance Assessments. She had the honor of conducting All-County Orchestras throughout the state, and has served on the Board of Directors for the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra. She has been a summer faculty member for both the Florida West Coast Symphony and UCF String Workshop. She has also been an adjunct professor at Stetson University, as instructor of their Secondary String Methods course.Mrs. Loucks is a violist with the Brevard Symphony, and has performed for the Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra, 4 Divo, Fernando Varela’s PBS special “Coming Home” and with her #1 favorite artist-Harry Connick, Jr. Her professional memberships include the Florida Orchestra Association/ Florida Music Educators Association, American String Teachers Association (ASTA) and Sigma Alpha Iota. Most recently she was selected as the 2017-18 Florida School Teacher of the Year by ASTA.Outside of the classroom, Lisa is mom to 2-year old Logan. She spends many weekends exploring the theme parks with her family and is an avid Disney Pin Trader.Ms. Loucks can be reached at [email protected]