ABOUT ME
Hello! My name is Michael Cappabianca, and I am in my first year as director of SHS bands. I am a recent graduate of Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts, Class of 2023, where I received a BM with a double concentration in Music Education and Music Performance. My primary instrument is saxophone.
Hello! My name is Michael Cappabianca, and I am in my first year as director of SHS bands. I am a recent graduate of Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts, Class of 2023, where I received a BM with a double concentration in Music Education and Music Performance. My primary instrument is saxophone.
CONTACT ME
By Email (preferred method): [email protected]
By Phone: (908) 394 - 3495 ext. 250
School Address: Springfield High School Room 517, 23 Main Street, Springfield, NJ, 02847
I only have access to this phone during the school day, but please feel free to reach out to me via email at any time! I will always do my best to get back to you in a timely manner, but I am most responsive to email on weekdays because I am an active performer and may be playing on some weekends. I will communicate with parents via email and communicate with students via email and Google Classroom.
By Email (preferred method): [email protected]
By Phone: (908) 394 - 3495 ext. 250
School Address: Springfield High School Room 517, 23 Main Street, Springfield, NJ, 02847
I only have access to this phone during the school day, but please feel free to reach out to me via email at any time! I will always do my best to get back to you in a timely manner, but I am most responsive to email on weekdays because I am an active performer and may be playing on some weekends. I will communicate with parents via email and communicate with students via email and Google Classroom.
MY PHILOSOPHY
Welcome to the Springfield High School band program! In this program, we recognize the vital role that music plays in the lives of our students. Instrumental music is an essential part of their education because it is a unique avenue for self-expression and creativity, and helps students to develop their artistic and musical sensibilities. What’s more, instrumental music fosters community, among the students themselves and in the broader community.
We recognize that our band will grow and succeed with the support of the community, and in turn that our band has something valuable to offer the community. We hope to receive the support of parents, the SHS community, and the general Springfield community. Parents’ willingness to share their time, administrators’ financial support, and the community’s willingness to cheer us on are all key elements of our success. In turn, we can contribute to Springfield’s artistic climate. Our familiar songs can delight listeners and be a powerful agent of social cohesion at football games and school assemblies. We hope to stretch audiences’ musical horizons by playing less familiar, artistically rigorous music as well, in the hopes that they will discover something new. We will also perform outreach by bringing music to all members of the community, including seniors and young children.
Students in the SHS band program will enjoy diverse musical experiences that go beyond traditional large ensemble performance. Playing the masterworks of the wind band tradition is important, and these works will be included in our curriculum, but SHS students will play music in a variety of styles and develop comprehensive musicianship through singing, composition, and critical listening. Possessing these skills will prepare them to connect with music more deeply, play music of all genres, and set them up for a lifetime of music making. Additionally, students will connect music to related artworks in a variety of mediums. The music that we play does not exist in a vacuum; it is shaped by the circumstances of the composer and by other artistic ideas. Every artist receives their inspiration from somewhere! Often, we can identify related artistic ideas in visual art, film, and literature of the time. Our curriculum will explore connections to our repertoire in these works so that we may develop a deeper understanding of style and the composer’s musical intent.
As teachers, we have certain desired outcomes and expectations for our students. We wish to see them succeed and have meaningful musical experiences, both during high school and beyond. There are five main learning outcomes that we desire for SHS students, which we believe will facilitate these meaningful musical experiences. First, students will develop independent musical thinking and the ability to make conscious artistic decisions.
Students who can independently formulate musical ideas are on their way to becoming full-fledged artists. Just as they do in English and science class, we want to see our students demonstrate critical thinking abilities and decide musical meaning for themselves. Students with this skill will be ready to go out and make music on their own, not just under the baton of a band director. Second, students will develop a deeper understanding of a variety of musical styles. Students with understanding of a variety of musical styles are global citizens. They respect and appreciate the music of many cultures, and may discover a new musical passion along the way. Third, students will learn problem solving strategies (musical and otherwise). It is said that the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. To improve, musicians must apply effective rehearsal strategies, not just practice the same thing over and over again. Students will think critically about how to improve performance, and this skill will transfer to many aspects of academic and professional life. Fourth, they will achieve technical proficiency on a primary instrument. Technical proficiency will enable them to express themselves artistically to the fullest extent. Finally, students will strengthen ‘soft’ skills (work ethic, communication, critical thinking, etc.) through individual practice and ensemble playing. Ensemble playing is a collaborative experience, and requires that students work effectively with others. Practicing effective communication or personal responsibility will help students to succeed in this ensemble, in future musical endeavors, and in life.
Welcome to the Springfield High School band program! In this program, we recognize the vital role that music plays in the lives of our students. Instrumental music is an essential part of their education because it is a unique avenue for self-expression and creativity, and helps students to develop their artistic and musical sensibilities. What’s more, instrumental music fosters community, among the students themselves and in the broader community.
We recognize that our band will grow and succeed with the support of the community, and in turn that our band has something valuable to offer the community. We hope to receive the support of parents, the SHS community, and the general Springfield community. Parents’ willingness to share their time, administrators’ financial support, and the community’s willingness to cheer us on are all key elements of our success. In turn, we can contribute to Springfield’s artistic climate. Our familiar songs can delight listeners and be a powerful agent of social cohesion at football games and school assemblies. We hope to stretch audiences’ musical horizons by playing less familiar, artistically rigorous music as well, in the hopes that they will discover something new. We will also perform outreach by bringing music to all members of the community, including seniors and young children.
Students in the SHS band program will enjoy diverse musical experiences that go beyond traditional large ensemble performance. Playing the masterworks of the wind band tradition is important, and these works will be included in our curriculum, but SHS students will play music in a variety of styles and develop comprehensive musicianship through singing, composition, and critical listening. Possessing these skills will prepare them to connect with music more deeply, play music of all genres, and set them up for a lifetime of music making. Additionally, students will connect music to related artworks in a variety of mediums. The music that we play does not exist in a vacuum; it is shaped by the circumstances of the composer and by other artistic ideas. Every artist receives their inspiration from somewhere! Often, we can identify related artistic ideas in visual art, film, and literature of the time. Our curriculum will explore connections to our repertoire in these works so that we may develop a deeper understanding of style and the composer’s musical intent.
As teachers, we have certain desired outcomes and expectations for our students. We wish to see them succeed and have meaningful musical experiences, both during high school and beyond. There are five main learning outcomes that we desire for SHS students, which we believe will facilitate these meaningful musical experiences. First, students will develop independent musical thinking and the ability to make conscious artistic decisions.
Students who can independently formulate musical ideas are on their way to becoming full-fledged artists. Just as they do in English and science class, we want to see our students demonstrate critical thinking abilities and decide musical meaning for themselves. Students with this skill will be ready to go out and make music on their own, not just under the baton of a band director. Second, students will develop a deeper understanding of a variety of musical styles. Students with understanding of a variety of musical styles are global citizens. They respect and appreciate the music of many cultures, and may discover a new musical passion along the way. Third, students will learn problem solving strategies (musical and otherwise). It is said that the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. To improve, musicians must apply effective rehearsal strategies, not just practice the same thing over and over again. Students will think critically about how to improve performance, and this skill will transfer to many aspects of academic and professional life. Fourth, they will achieve technical proficiency on a primary instrument. Technical proficiency will enable them to express themselves artistically to the fullest extent. Finally, students will strengthen ‘soft’ skills (work ethic, communication, critical thinking, etc.) through individual practice and ensemble playing. Ensemble playing is a collaborative experience, and requires that students work effectively with others. Practicing effective communication or personal responsibility will help students to succeed in this ensemble, in future musical endeavors, and in life.