About Mr D the Creator of the Sight Reading and Sight Singing Program S-Cubed!

I have taught middle school students for well over 20 years.  I currently teach over 340 un-auditioned choral students.  I have up to 84 students in one class by myself.  I could never have managed that as a young teacher, but along the way, I have learned several tips and tricks to help me successfully manage this age group of students in a positive learning environment.

I started my career in North Carolina where I taught for 5 years. In the beginning, I struggled enormously with classroom management.  My middle school students totally "ran over me".  I was unstructured, inconsistent and ineffective.  I was discouraged and felt like a total failure.  I felt alone.  I thought often about quitting teaching and doing something else.  I was armed with a masters degree and absolutely no idea how to teach this age group.

I am not a quitter, so I kept going.  I observed other teachers, and slowly began to figure a couple of things out that helped me hang in there.

I continued my career in New Jersey for the next 6 years.  It was there that I saw an amazingly gifted choral educator who had created the most magnificent middle school choral program I had ever seen.  She graciously allowed me to observe her teaching a few times, and that was when things began to click for me.  I began to realize how to relate to and successfully teach this age group.  That is when my programs began to grow exponentially.

I currently teach in Atlanta, GA.

During my career, I have taught children from every socio-economic and cultural background and strongly believe in the public school system. They all can learn.  It is our job to reach them.  We must figure it out, or move on to another career.

With modern technology, new and struggling middle school teachers can reach out on the internet and get the support they need, and that is part of what I want to help provide here in my blog.

Masters of Music from University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Bachelor's of Music from University of North Carolina at Greensboro
NAFME Webinar
Sight Singing Article in Choral Director Magazine 
2015 ChorTeach Article "Why Won't My Middle School Choir Sing?!?"

9 comments

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  2. I find teaching music quite a struggle at times. Your resources-especially those created for choirs-are excellent! I really think your works are meeting a need. Well done!

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  3. I am enjoying what I am reading on here. Thank you!

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    1. So happy to hear it! Thank you for reading! Please share with your peers!

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  4. Middle School is a challenge for me! I am investing in the S-Cube program but would also like to see you in action as a conductor! How about sharing tips in this area as well?

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  5. Thank you! I am posting videos of my Facebook and Youtube channels over the next two weeks! Check them out!

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  6. I hope to see you present at the Texas convention sometime! In the meantime, I'm looking forward to using your program!

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  7. Ok, I am a HUGE fan!! I also teach middle schoolers and I am having difficulty with the students asking me why I like other students more than them? I must say, I have also been teaching for a long time and this is the first time I have ever had so many students ask me this as well as, "who is your favorite student?" Now, I am also a mother to three amazing and quite spirited teen agers so I feel as though I am almost completely surrounded by teenage hormones but I still have not had so many students ask me this same question....I was just wondering your thoughts on why, and maybe how I could make sure all students feel as if they are my favorites!!??:)

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    1. Hello! Thank you for your kind words! When I encounter this question from a child, I usually make a joke of it and say, "Of course I like her better than you!" or something to that effect to disperse the energy and help us all snicker for a second. Then, I'll say something more real about it that seems appropriate. Laughter helps everything with this age group.

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