Matthew G. Doublestein

Musical Life History Statement

My musical life history really begins in middle school. My family had moved to Indianapolis, IN while I was attending elementary school. In fifth grade, the middle school band director came to my school to give us the opportunity to try out different instruments that we might like to play. I had been playing the Horn since fourth grade because we had a Horn in the basement. My father played horn in high school, and I wanted to play the same instrument as he did. This made the instrument tryout process very simple. I already knew what wanted to play. The teacher tried to get me to try other instruments, but I was resolute in my decision.

I played my horn in two different middle schools, because a new school was built while I was in sixth grade. At the new middle school, I also joined the jazz band on trumpet. I enjoyed the new experience and had a lot of fun with the different literature I was exposed to.

Eventually my horn began too bore me. I was the best Horn player in the school, and none of the program was challenging to me. My middle school band director, Lisa Lain, was willing to provide me with another avenue to be challenged. I asked her to let me play the bass clarinet for a while as well as my horn. She allowed this and even encouraged me in my new pursuit. Mrs. Lain allowed me to play both instruments on concerts and in rehearsals.

Toward the end of middle school, I attended a conference where a children’s choir was singing. The group was wonderful. They had great skill and a sound that was very moving. This group moved me to the point that I was sure that I wanted to be in music throughout my life.

My first high school experience was with the marching band. Mrs. Lain's husband Don was the director, so I was already somewhat familiar with the situation at the high school. The marching band was a great ensemble. We made good music and had some competitive success. This success again reinforced my desire to continue in my art. I began to lessons on m Horn from Kent Leslie. These lessons served to increase my musicianship and work ethic. I joined the jazz band and learned another instrument. The trombone section needed another player, so I picked up the bell-front marching band baritone and joined the section.

In my sophomore year of high school, I was given one of the greatest opportunities of my entire life. The music minister at my church asked me to direct the Trinity Wesleyan Church Orchestra. I decided to take the position, and jumped right into it that same week. There were a few problems that I faced in this job. I was much younger than the members of the ensemble. I had no conducting experience. I had never been in front of a large group for rehearsal purposes. Mr. Lain helped me with my conducting skills, but I was still very inexperienced.

At this point in my life I began to notice how others were teaching and to evaluate positive and negative aspects of their skills. I observed strong teachers and weaker teachers. Many of my opportunities for observation came when our band went to contests and clinics. I also observed other teachers at All-State Band and All-State orchestra. Ray Cramer was the director of the IMEA honor band when I played in that ensemble. It was very interesting and educational to observe Dr. Cramer's technique.

I am very confident in my abilities as a music teacher and an artist. I know that I can teach the finer points of my art to the children I will see in my classroom. The things I need to work on before I am in a teaching role have to do with the fundamentals for beginning music students. Teaching complex ideas and concepts comes very easily to me. It is the more basic thought that is more difficult. I hope that I will have more experiences in my college career that will help me to address that discrepancy in ability. Perhaps I will have the chance to teach beginning Horn lessons or to work with beginning band students. I also need to learn more about band literature. I am not as familiar with the music as I should be. My Band Literature class should serve to increase my knowledge in this area. I look forward to learning more and improving as an artist.