Become an Endorsed Teacher Trainer

Those seeking to become an FAME-Endorsed Teacher Trainer in John Feierabend’s First Steps in Music or Conversational Solfege Levels 1 & 2 must go through the following 3 stage process:

PHASE ONE

Five (5) calendar years after full FAME certification (comprised of First Steps in Music, Conversational Solfege 1 & 2, Conversational Solfege Upper Levels) is successfully completed with Dr. Feierabend or an Endorsed Teacher Trainer, a teacher can apply to become a “Candidate for Apprenticeship.” Completed applications must be submitted for consideration between October 1 and December 31st for possible Mentorship the following Spring.

Application Requirements for First Steps In Music:

Successful completion of all FAME Certification Courses with John Feierabend or an Endorsed Teacher Trainer (FAME Certificate Numbers from each training are required).
1. First Steps in Music (minimum of 20 hours)
2. Conversational Solfege I & 2 (minimum of 20 hours)
3. Conversational Solfege Upper Levels (minimum 20 hours)
At least 5 years of teaching experience utilizing the Feierabend approach post-completion of all above-mentioned FAME coursework (First Steps In Music, Conversational Solfege Levels 1 and 2, and Conversational Solfege Upper Levels).
A copy of official transcript(s) verifying completion of all three FAME courses (First Steps In Music, Conversational Solfege Levels 1 and 2, and Conversational Solfege Upper Levels).
Two (2) current letters of recommendation from a supervisor or colleague referencing specific contributions the applicant has made to improve the music program at his/her current position and, if applicable, their ability to communicate with, lead, and inspire other educators.
Current CV/Résumé.
A letter explaining why the applicant is applying to become a FAME Teacher Trainer Apprentice. Thoughts should include what the Feierabend approach represents to them, how the philosophy has influenced their teaching, and how being a Teacher Trainer would not only contribute to their own professional learning, but how they would help support and grow the FAME organization and its members.
Three sequential written lesson plans, each showing the full 8-Part First Steps Workout, as well as all teacher procedures (follow the First Steps in Music Lesson Plan Template).
A video recording, between 25-40 minutes in length, of the applicant teaching one of the three submitted lessons to a group of students. The video must be continuous and unedited and should show the entire 8-Part Workout from the selected written lesson plan.
A 1-2 page reflection paper on the video lesson in which the teacher lists which of the 3 written lessons they chose for the video submission. This reflection should offer perspective on some of the successes and challenges that occurred while teaching the lesson. The applicant may also comment on any unique aspects of or surprises from the lesson that might help the committee better evaluate as they watch the recording.

First Steps in Music Lesson Plan Template

First Steps Apprenticeship Candidate applicants will be notified of the status of their application by February 28th following their completed application submission of the previous Fall.

Application Requirements for Conversational Solfege:

Successful completion of all FAME Certification Courses with John Feierabend or an Endorsed Teacher Trainer (FAME Certificate Numbers are required).
1. First Steps in Music (minimum of 20 hours)
2. Conversational Solfege I & 2 (minimum of 20 hours)
3. Conversational Solfege Upper Levels (minimum 20 hours)
At least 5 years of teaching experience utilizing the Feierabend approach post-completion of all above-mentioned FAME coursework (First Steps In Music, Conversational Solfege Levels 1 and 2, and Conversational Solfege Upper Levels).
A copy of official transcript(s) verifying completion of all three FAME courses (First Steps In Music, Conversational Solfege Levels 1 and 2, and Conversational Solfege Upper Levels).
Two (2) current letters of recommendation from a supervisor or colleague referencing specific contributions the applicant has made to improve the music program at his/her current position and, if applicable, their ability to communicate with, lead, and inspire other educators.
Current CV/Résumé.
A letter explaining why the applicant is applying to become a FAME Teacher Trainer Apprentice. Thoughts should include what the Feierabend approach represents to them, how the philosophy has influenced their teaching, and how being a Teacher Trainer would not only contribute to their own professional learning, but how they would help support and grow the FAME organization and its members.
Three sequential written lesson plans for one Unit of Conversational Solfege. Each lesson plan should include past/present/future Conversational Solfege objectives as well as the “doing” and “about” portions for the lesson with teacher procedures (follow the Conversational Lesson Plan Template).
A video recording, of one of the three submitted lesson plans. The video should be continuous and unedited and should reflect the selected lesson plan and teacher procedures. The video must be comprised of the complete lesson, start to finish, in which the applicant demonstrates the “Past”, “Present” and “Future” literacy components of the lesson, as well as the “Doing” and “About” portions of the lesson.
A 1-2 page reflection paper on the video lesson in which the teacher lists which of the 3 written lessons they chose for the video submission. This reflection should offer perspective on some of the successes and challenges that occurred while teaching the lesson. The applicant may also comment on any unique aspects of or surprises from the lesson that might help the committee better evaluate as they watch the recording.

Conversational Solfege Lesson Plan Template

Conversational Solfege Apprenticeship Candidate applicants will be notified of the status of their application by February 28th following their completed application submission of the previous Fall.

PHASE TWO

If approved by the Teacher Trainer Application Sub-Committee (TASC), the Candidate would start between March 1st and April 30th immediately following notification of their acceptance. The following period, the duration of which is approximately one year, will be considered the “Mentorship Phase”. The Mentor will be a Teacher Trainer from this TASC whenever possible, or someone of the committee’s choosing (and if possible, from the applicant’s preference list). This period consists of:

In person or video observations of the mentor and, whenever possible, other TTs in workshops or conference sessions. (Required: a minimum of 3-5 contacts for the duration of the Candidate period).
Mentor observation of the Candidate’s teaching, in person or video, a minimum of 3 lessons, though more are encouraged whenever possible, over the duration of the Mentorship.
Observation (in person, unless otherwise determined by the TASC due to extenuating circumstances) of at least one day of a FAME certification course with the Mentor and/or another Teacher Trainer, though the Candidate is encouraged to observe more or all of the course whenever possible.
Watch, take extended notes, and create a tentative course outline from the DVD lectures for First Steps or Conversational Solfege which will be reviewed by the Mentor and the Sub-Committee.
Application at the regional or state level to present a workshop to music educators, preferably one related to FS or CS whenever possible. If accepted, is should be recorded and reviewed with mentor.
Do a 1-2 hour “Introduction to” FS or CS workshop-style presentation. This lecture must be recorded in front of a group of at least 8 adults (music or classroom educators are preferred). Afterwards, the Candidate will go over the recording with the Mentor for reflection (from the Candidate) and feedback (from the Mentor). This video will also be evaluated by John Feierabend and the TASC.
Contribute at least one article or resource (e.g. a planning form, a game, or a worksheet that they have created for use with FS or CS) for the FAME “Teacher Trainer Corner” on the FAME website, to be vetted by the Mentor, TASC, and Publicity Committee. Submitted resources should be accompanied by a 1-2 page explanation of the resource for the FAME website.
Consistently interact with like-minded Feierabend professionals either in person and/or through social media such as Feierabend Fundamentals and FAME Regional Facebook pages or Twitter. Whenever possible, the Candidate should host or attend a regional FAME meet-up and/or regularly contribute on Facebook by answering questions, offering support, insights, teaching tips, advice, etc.
Both the Mentor and Candidate will submit a completed Mentorship Check-In form to the TASC in August and January of the Mentorship.

Both the Mentor and/or the Candidate may approach the TASC with concerns at any time during the process.

PHASE THREE

During March and April (approximately one year after the Mentorship Phase began), the Mentor will meet with the TASC to discuss/decide whether or not the Candidate will move become an Apprentice.
If the Mentor and Committee agree that the Candidate is not yet ready, the Candidate may either continue their mentorship, or may decide (in consultation with the Mentor and the TASC) to discontinue the process.
The TASC will inform the Candidate of their decision by May 1st (approximately one year after the Mentorship Phase began).
Once the invitation to become an Apprentice has been issued, the Apprenticeship with Dr. Feierabend must be completed sometime in the following 16 months unless other arrangements have been made by the TASC.
Once they pass their Apprenticeship, the original Mentor or a new one will be available to them for their first year as a Teacher Trainer.

GENERAL TIMELINE

Completed application submitted between October 1 and December 31.
Notification of application status by the TASC to the applicant the following March.
If selected, the Candidate will start between March 15 and April 30 immediately following acceptance. This period, the duration of which is approximately one year, will be considered the Mentorship phase.
Both the Mentor and Candidate will submit “check-in” forms to the TASC in August and January during the Mentorship.
In March and April (approximately one year after the Mentorship Phase began), the Mentor will meet with the TASC to discuss/decide whether or not the Candidate will move forward to become an Apprentice.
If the Mentor and Committee agree that the Candidate is not yet ready to move forward, the candidate may either continue their mentorship or may decide, in consultation with the Mentor and the TASC, to discontinue the process.
The TASC will inform the Candidate of their decision by May 1 (approximately one year after the Mentorship Phase began).
Once the invitation to become an Apprentice has been issued, the Apprenticeship with Dr. Feierabend must be completed in the following 16 months unless other arrangements have been made by the TASC.

FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS

A FAME Teacher Trainer currently Single Endorsed in First Steps or Conversational Solfege must complete the full application process, submitting all the requirements for application, but may not have to be mentored pending the decision of the TASC.
College Professors seeking their first Teacher Trainer Endorsement in First Steps or Conversational Solfege must complete the full application process requirements for the application. However, if they are unable to submit a video of themselves leading a live class with children, they may submit a demonstration class with college students in its place. Professors are also required to submit a 60 minute video of a lecture to college students in which they explain First Steps or Conversational Solfege.

How to apply:

Fill out the online application form.

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