A Glimpse at the ECU School of Music

One of the strongest programs at ECU is our music program, so it's only fitting that several of our Teaching Fellows and Maynard Scholars are music education majors. They are among the busiest group of people within the TF program, representing us in many exciting activities. Here's a look at two of the activities Fellows participated in through the School of Music this semester.

Octubafest
by Anthony Hingley (sophomore)

October 10th-12th was an interesting couple of days for the members of the Tuba and Euphonium studio in the School of Music. This year our professor, Tom McCaslin, started up an annual series of recitals which is called Octubafest. Each member of the studio had to either prepare a solo piece to perform, or perform as part of a tuba-euphonium quartet. Out of the 16 members of the studio, 5 of us are Teaching Fellows. We had to put in extra practice time to work our pieces up to par, and before we knew it, that week was upon us.

The recital on the 10th was a full hour of music all played by our professor, Mr. McCaslin, who is new to ECU this year and is one of the best tuba players I have ever heard, in recordings or otherwise. After his recital was done, I was so psyched about my performance which would be on the 12th, and also to hear what everyone else had prepared.

All in all, everyone did very well, and I thoroughly enjoyed my first Octubafest. Next year it should be just as fun, if not more, now that I know what to expect.

Drum Corps International: A Glimpse At A Life Changing Experience
by Nieves Villasenor (freshman)

As a music education major, we learn to appreciate all kinds of musical concepts. We learn to sing, play band and string instruments, and to appreciate the vast realm of music. Whether it be on a field or a concert hall, the appreciation of music is everywhere.

What many people are not aware of, besides people who are familiar with music, is that it can be comparable with the American sport of football and baseball. Being at East Carolina, we are all familiar with college football, and how many of them began as high school stars and how some aspire to become professional players. In music, marching music in particular, it can be said the same way. Where there is high school band, you go to college band, then to what is known as marching music's major league, Drum Corps International (DCI).

DCI is a youth activity that goes on during the summer for students from ages 14-21. In the activity, students learn about the positive results of preparation, commitment, and success as they work hundreds of hours preparing a show for thousands. They travel across the country performing for groups and improving their abilities all while entertaining a crowd.

The reason I blog about this?

DCI has long been a hobby of mine. It is part of the many reasons of why I want to be a music educator. I am doing my applied studies on Saxophone but I play trumpet in the Marching Pirates so that I can hone my skills to be a part of this group. I have seen first hand how the experience of being with a corps has positively influenced the creation of great music educators. In the Marching Pirates, Brandon Hults, a graduate assistant with the band, showed me first hand through his practices with the band just how much the experienced has seemed to make him a better leader.

I hope to audition for a spot on the Carolina Crown or Crossmen hornline this fall. With a good attitude and lots of practice, maybe it'll become a reality.

ECU Homecoming: October 27

By Austin Kestler (freshman)
Photo by Robyn McLawhorn (junior)

Homecoming here at ECU was festive as always. From floats and parades, on to the fantastic football game against UAB. It was a busy time for us ECU Teaching Fellows and Maynard Scholars. Our Student Activities committee put together a memorable float for the parade on October 27th. ECU Teaching Fellows graduate Ron Clark, owner of the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, joined us for homecoming to ride on our float and support our program. Although or float didn't win any awards it was still a lot of fun. Our banner, however won second place, another special thanks to our Student Activities Committee. As for the football game, it was spectacular. Our ECU Pirates dominated against UAB in a stunning 41-6. Halftime was really exciting. Ron Clark returned with some of his students to receive honor for being an alumni of ECU. I can't wait for next year.

While all ECU Teaching Fellows and Maynard Scholars are invited to participate in our organization's homecoming events, the most active group in the homecoming festivities is the Student Activities Committee. Below, one of the members of that committee elaborates on his participation.

By Trevor Rorie (freshman)

Homecoming week is probably the most spirit-filled week at any school, whether it be a high school or university. My first homecoming at East Carolina University was simply amazing. East Carolina holds a Homecoming parade and numerous other festivities during the week. There was even a concert by Trey Songz. Teaching Fellows took an active role in the Homecoming events.

The Teaching Fellows acted in skits, decorated and designed a float, and decorated and designed a homecoming banner. I am a member of the Student Activities committee and we made the banner. Though I am not an artist by any means, I helped with a little bit of painting. The banner was a hundred dollar bill note with Petey in the center. The mint registry numbers correlated with East Carolina's first day. The banner was purple and gold of course. All the major artwork was designed and painted by the more skillful members of the team.

Working on the banner at first seemed like a chore and just something else I had to do. After bonding with my fellow Student Activities committee members and painting a little, I actually had fun and enjoyed myself. I even got to meet some Fellows I hadn't met before. The banner was huge success and it brought all of us a little closer together.

The End-of-Semester Rush

By Bradley Baggett (freshman)

It’s that time again. We’ve reached the end of the semester. It seems like we’ve been assigned a final project for every class that has us running around rushing to get things done. There are numerous other deadlines to have completed before the semester is out. Now is also the time when we all begin to study for our all-important final exams. All this stress is really starting to bear down on some of us. Still, I can’t forget all of the ECU Teaching Fellows office staff. If all our stress and worries become too much, we have people like Dr. Corbin and Mrs. Parrish to pull us through it. I have a feeling some of us may not think the office staff can be much help in this matter. If so, talk to your friends, talk to someone who can help pull you through the stress of the end of the semester. We can all make it!

Happy Thanksgiving! (Have some pictures!)

To celebrate the Thanksgiving break, we're posting some pictures taken by our Communications Committee photographers over the past couple of months. Enjoy!

Photos by Mary Steimel (freshman)















Above: Bulletin Boards subcommittee chair Georganna Davis (junior) works with other members of the subcommittee to hang the bulletin board outside of the Teaching Fellows office at our October Communications Committee meeting. Below: The finished bulletin board, "Fellows Around the World," celebrated the summer activities, trips, and experiences of our Teaching Fellows, who traveled all over the world for Junior Enrichment, study abroad, and personal experiences.














Photos by Jaron Cox (freshman)















Freshman Teaching Fellows and Maynard Scholars congregate in the hallway of Umstead Hall, where they all live together, in order to wish one of their own a happy birthday - at midnight.















Freshman Teaching Fellows Lauren, Paige, and Carly take a break from their studies to celebrate one of the biggest nights of the year at ECU - Halloween. Dressing up with friends makes the night even more fun.

Senior I Internship as a Dance Educator

By Brooke Whitfield (senior)

When trying to pick the right college coming out of high school, I decided that as I was interviewing for the Teaching Fellows scholarship, one of the only two schools that offered Dance Education was East Carolina University. Plus, I knew that East Carolina had a great education program in general. This was amazing to me. I could possibly obtain a wonderful scholarship and attend college for something that I’ve loved to do ever since a very young age. Why not, right?

I am now a Senior Teaching Fellow at East Carolina University in Dance Education. The Teaching Fellows scholarship has enabled me to pursue two of my favorite things; teaching and dance. My mother and grandmother were both teachers and I have danced since the age of five. Being a Teaching Fellow, I have been exposed to various schools and educational programs in North Carolina. This has made me more aware of North Carolina’s opportunities offered to school-aged children in our school systems. I feel more prepared to begin my student teaching next semester due to all I have been exposed to, and my Senior I Internship in Beaufort County is also helping me prepare for my future. I look forward to pursuing my teaching career in Dance Education and feel very prepared to share my knowledge thanks to the Teaching Fellows program and The School of Theatre and Dance at East Carolina University. Go Pirates!

A Resident Advisor Teaching Fellow

By Kristen Hales (junior)

There are two things at ECU that I have never regretted doing. I have never regretted accepting the Teaching Fellows scholarship, and I have never second guessed my decision to become a Resident Advisor. The perks of the job are amazing, with Teaching Fellows and the RA job, I have a full ride to ECU. My parents were ecstatic, and so was I, upon finding out that I got my own room! A single, for me!

However, being an RA also has its drawbacks. Even though it’s a fun, creative, hands on job, there are oftentimes when you face unique challenges. From domestic disputes to roommate problems, even to the “I’m locked out of my room” scenario, you get to see it all.

Despite these occasional drawbacks, this job is giving me valuable learning experiences as well. I want to be a high school teacher, and what better way to learn how to handle students of that age group than by managing a bunch of freshmen who are the same age or younger than most high school seniors. I also get to make informational bulletin boards – as a future super creative and innovative teacher, this is a great way for me to learn about diverse topics, from vegetarianism to energy conservation.

Being an RA is tough, but the experience will last me a lifetime.

Dean's Leadership Seminar: "Front of the Class"

By Kaitlin Bunch (freshman)
Photo by Jaron Cox (freshman)

Brad Cohen visited us on Monday, October 8, and gave a wonderful presentation. I really enjoyed the book and re-read many of the parts. I especially liked the parts when he talked about his childhood because I know many people that can relate to that. All children have ups and downs while they are growing up and Brad had some really BIG ups and downs. His book is so inspirational because he tells how he overcame those situations and how that has helped him become the person he is today.

I was especially excited about the movie that is being made about him. This will give other people the chance to hear about and visualize some of the things he has gone through. I was also excited to hear about his new wife. To be honest I had really hoped that from the time he wrote the book to the time he presented to us that someone would have entered his love life. Not saying that he couldn't survive without that someone special, I just had hoped that if it was something that he wanted that he would get it. He deserves it.

I did get a little bit bored during his talk because so much of what he said was from the book and a lot of the stories were the same. I did like watching him while he talked to try and see some of the things he does. It was so interesting to see how much his mannerisms changed when he wasn't speaking and when he was. It was also neat seeing some of the ticks that he had not mentioned in the book, like the way his right arm kinda twitched a little bit while he talked.

It was a very good learning experience to have him with us as well as reading his book, I think after reading that I will be a better person and also a better teacher in the future.

Click here to read Brad Cohen's own blog about his visit to ECU.