"All the Things" Training Opportunity/Textbook focus group

Attn: Music Educators and Cleveland Area Musicians/Composers/Conductors

    It has come to my attention that there is no specific path or method for training conductors and composers in the myriad of skills that they require in order to prepare themselves.  To answer this need, I am writing a textbook geared to the comprehensive education of conductors, composers, or anyone who has had some prior musical training and wishes develop comprehensive musicianship skills and learn all of the instruments of the band and orchestra in a systematic method.  “All the Things” (working title) will teach ear training, sight-singing, score study, keyboard harmony, theory, conducting, basic compositional techniques, woodwind methods, brass methods, string methods and percussion methods.
    Writing such a text is a daunting task, and no text would be useful without the input of musicians and educators from a variety of fields and backgrounds.  In order to gain such input, I am forming a weekly class this fall to test materials.  Each class will cover one or more units from the book and will give me a way to try out material with actual musicians in a way that it would be intended to be used in the future.  I encourage as many people as possible to participate in this class as it will help me to organize, test, and strengthen the materials I am preparing.  Attending the class will hopefully also increase the musicianship and skill set of the attendees. 
There will be no charge for the class, though I do ask a few things in return.  Each attendee will be asked to provide verbal and written feedback at the end of each session and throughout the class; I need to know what works and what is not effective.  I will credit (if desired) all participants in the textbook, but no monetary compensation will be provided either.  I also ask that each attendee participate as fully as possible.  While attendance at each session is not mandatory, attending a majority of the sessions is requested and that if you will miss a session, you will communicate that appropriately.
    The course will meet for two hours once weekly, and it is expected that individuals will spend one to two hours during the week on practice or study of the materials as assigned for the next week.  Each participant should bring a pencil, paper, staff paper, a positive attitude and their primary instrument to each session.  You may wish to bring a music stand as a limited amount of stands may be available at the course venue.  You should have access to a piano or keyboard of some sort for your own practice and for some of the assignments throughout the week.  Dates &times have not yet been set for the course; I will do my best to work around existing schedules.  I expect the course to last the length of the academic year, beginning in late August.
    If you are interested in joining me on this journey by participating in the focus group/trial class, please contact me at (216) 904-0975 or webguybrandyn@icloud.com with your interest and possible available times.  Thank you for your interest in this project.

Brandyn Metzko, Composer/Conductor/Educator
(216) 904-0975
webguybrandyn@icloud.com