Conducting

Amazing Grace, Arr. Ryan Nowlin (18:20)...

Attached, you will find an assessment video from my first semester of conducting (top right), a run-through of "Bicycle Built for Two" for Saxophone Ensemble (bottom left), and my concert debut with the Mifflin County Junior High Honor Band (top left). I wanted to share a snapshot of my exponential progress over time. I have targeted and improved my fluidity of gestures, my characteristic and spontaneous responses to the ensemble I am conducting, and, showcasing my greater understanding of how parts are intertwined in my cueing. 

Student Teaching Placement 1: Mifflin County Middle School - Mifflin County School District

Caitlin spent ten weeks at Mifflin County Middle School (her primary placement). She worked under Samantha Gates from January 5th to March 12th, 2026. She worked primary with sixth and seventh graders, as well as student life skills group ages up to sixteen years old. Throughout the school day, Caitlin was responsible for rehearsing the sixth and seventh grade full bands, as well as provide students with additional enrichment through individual section pull-out lessons. She also provided equitable and accommodating general music experiences in a life skills music class. After school, Caitlin had the opportunity to rehearse and coach the Mifflin County Jazz Ensemble and Select Ensemble through repertoire of higher difficulty. She also served as an indoor marching band staff member to kick off the first ever season of the Mifflin County Middle School Indoor Winds program (Pictured on right)!

Student Teaching Placement 2: Easterly Parkway and Corl Street Elementary Schools - State College Area School District

From March 16th to May 1st, 2026, Caitlin worked under Kelly Sipes in her elementary general music placement. Caitlin is actively providing a well-rounded general music experience through grades K-5. She has worked to develop young singing voices through exploration, storytelling, and solfege challenges. Caitlin has continued to build on rhythm fluency through Gordon syllables and tempi/dynamic contrast through Dalcroze eurythmics. Lastly, she has had the opportunity to provide students with the time and software to explore their creativity as a musician through composition and songwriting (Songwriting work samples pictured). 

Sample Unit Plan

My teaching of this unit plan has been incredibly rewarding and a helpful reference for future rehearsals. At the start of the plan, it was apparent that students were very hesitant to buy into the vulnerable process. I used the opportunity to share that this unit plan is not simply an assessment, but a tool to build up the skill that is sight-reading. The most satisfying moment I experienced as a result of this plan was witnessing students helping each other go through the STAR components on less familiar passages before the start of rehearsal. 

Sample PMEA Lesson Plan

This multi-day PMEA lesson plan serves as one of many efficient plans for multiple classes of the same age-group. The design is for the plan to recognize that learning is not "one-size-fits-all." Though, I did not have a spot in the room to safely film, each of the four 3rd grade classes ended in different places after the first lesson. Regardless, this plan is a phenomenal opportunity to test retention of learning. I was able to build connections with the concept of a "round" through mentioning a piece ("A Ram Sam Sam") that they learned about earlier this year. In following weeks, I was able to cultivate an environment for further student discussion as we recall important definitions and where we left off in the last week. I was able to methodically assess small groups of students, as their round performance abilities advanced. 

Classroom Management Plan - Ms. Goldberg's Golden Three

Accountability

Students will internalize classroom procedures and take the necessary measures to be consistently prepared for each rehearsal. It is with utmost importance for students to think ahead, plan, and communicate with people in their life so they can put their best foot forward for themselves, as well as their peers.   

Respect

Students will demonstrate respect through listening intently during instruction. Students will respect rehearsal time by swiftly transitioning and following the time-stamped rehearsal schedule posted on the board. Students will politely listen and take in the opinions and perspectives of their peers with an open mind. 

Valiance

Our space is designed for students to take musical risks. We applaud our peers for going out of their comfort zone. We recognize that everyone is on their own individual musical journey, and we support and celebrate every milestone with our peers.  

Rewards:

~Student-lead warm-ups 

~Student gets to pick repertoire order for one rehearsal 

~Gold/silver stands (Given out to 2 students every rehearsal for hard work and going beyond expectations) 

~PBIS Points (Pool points and save for a prize – candy, soda, stickers, etc) 

Consequences:

~Points taken off daily rehearsal grade 

~Loss of eligibility to participate in extra-curricular ensembles 

~Call to home/ISS/OSS 

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