November 21, 2024
Hi Dale,
I just wanted to drop you a quick note about my experience with your program. For context, I teach 2 bands, orchestra, choir, drama, and an exploratory wheel music class at a small middle school. Last year, we brought choir back for the first time in at least 6 years. I am primarily an instrumentalist, but my first musical experience was in choir in elementary school. I STRUGGLED with sight singing/ ear training in college. As in, I failed the class the first time and barely passed with a c the second time. And I’m generally an A student. It is definitely my weakness. (But give me theory and history all day and I’m there for it!)
Anyway, all that to say I decided on a whim to try your program this school year with my choir and wheel class. It has been life changing. I wish I had done your program sooner when I was teaching choir at my previous school. While hearing intervals and singing them correctly is still a huge challenge for me, I am fortunate to have a couple students who are really strong (and familiar with the correct pitches) who will sing correctly when I mess up. It’s lead to some really great conversations about how it is a struggle of mine but I’m not giving up, we all make mistakes and it’s ok. My choir is THRIVING this year. They are flying through sight singing (and even sight read the lesson 12 day 2 example without chaos correctly, together with all students participating fully - they all jumped in when I was singing the count in demonstration on the starting note 
) We are a small choir of 18, and a mix of abilities and backgrounds grade 6-8. The fact that everyone is catching on and doing so well is amazing and I am so proud of them. I’ve never had so much success with my choir classes.
) We are a small choir of 18, and a mix of abilities and backgrounds grade 6-8. The fact that everyone is catching on and doing so well is amazing and I am so proud of them. I’ve never had so much success with my choir classes. I am in awe of the fact that you were able to write down your methods in a coherent, easy to follow way while also teaching full time with all that entails. I appreciate the time and effort you took to make this available for us all. When I’m thinking about reasons why I am grateful this Thanksgiving season, you and your S-Cubed program are right up there near the top of the list! I wish I had something similar for my instrumental classes to work of basic theory- I haven’t landed on a consistent method yet.
Anyway, thank you for all you do!
Lindsey
May 1, 2024
Tue 6:31 AM
Hello! My name is Mary Caligiure and I am a vocal music teacher with the Southern Delaware School of the Arts. My students have been fully immersed in your curriculum this year and are about to complete their final lesson. The amount of growth I have seen in them is absolutely amazing. I don’t think they even realize to what extent they have grown this year. My students are dying to know who “Mr. D.” is. You have become a legend in my classroom. I was wondering if you would be willing to create a little video message for them congratulating them on their hard work this year. I think it would be a really fun end of year surprise. I’m sure you are super busy but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask! I appreciate all the work you put into your curriculum! It has certainly changed my students.
July 25, 2023- Regarding whether S-Cubed works with High School Students from Matthew Sawtelle.
Matthew Sawtelle
DIrector of Music for the Braintree Public Schools, k-12 (Braintree, Ma)
matthew.sawtelle@braintreeschools.org
Teaching Experience:
Braintree High School Choral - 2019 - present
Braintree South Middle School Choral - 2005-2019
Dudley Middle School Band - 2003-2005
Undergraduate Degree
Anna Maria College - Bachelors in Music Education - 2003
Master’s Degree
Boston University - Music Education - 2007
C.A.G.S.
American International College - Education Administration - 2015
I came across S-Cubed when searching online for new ways to teach solfege to my students at the middle school level. I went through college always thinking I would be a band teacher, and never had a focus on solfege. I knew the basics, but it was not my forte. I wanted to find a way to get the basics of solfege and sight singing instilled into my students. I have always approached middle school teaching with the philosophy that students are only limited by what we think they are able to accomplish. I saw the videos of Dale’s students at festival sight reading pieces with such accuracy and I was sold. I purchased the S-cubed program the following school year and began implementation.
Of course, there was some push back with trying something new, with my veteran students, but the outcome was the proof they needed. I video taped the students working through the exercises in the start of the year, and then sporadically as the year progressed. We finished the year with students sight reading 16 measure multi-part phrases, when they started off struggling on 4 measure unison. I went back and showed the students the videos for them to see their own progressions, and they were sold. I continued using this for the last five years or so that I was at the middle school level. When I moved up to the director position, and was teaching high school, I thought my S-cubed days were done. Then Covid happened….
As we have begun the rebuild, my students had lost not only their sight reading ability, they lost the continuity of classroom procedures. We all have experienced it. I went back to what worked with my middle school students. From day one of position one, two, and three, to the forbidden pattern game, students were becoming engaged in class again. They were asking for more sight reading examples, and forbidden pattern games. At the high school level, I was able to progress much faster, since I was now seeing the students every day, instead of only three days out of a six day cycle like we did in middle school.
The basics that are instilled in the program were exactly what was needed for the high school students. I did have to mark up the powerpoint presentations so they didn’t say anything about middle school on them, but the students were able to rebound as we pushed through each day. Students who thought they weren’t able to sight read were suddenly getting their “lightbulb” moment. I was able to rebuild and bring students to the state festival, had students being selected for All-State, as well as various choral groups across the south shore of Massachusetts.
I cannot praise Dale’s work with S-Cubed enough. The simple approach to solfege and sight singing has been a tremendous help to my teaching. It gave me a new confidence in being able to teach music, and also boosted the confidence in all of my students. My students would not have progressed the way they did without the implementation of this program. I must say that in order for it to work, you need to buy in completely. Do each unit as prescribed and work. Don’t worry about how fast you progress. As long as you are consistent, the process works. It is proven. If you don’t fully believe it from my own testimony, then try it out for yourself. Own it! Make it your own, and push your students beyond what they ever thought they were capable of achieving.
July 12, 2023
| Dear Music in the Middle with Mr D, You've received the following comment and rating about your resource "S-Cubed MEGA Bundle! How to Teach Sight Singing and Sight Reading to Beginners!" from Jennifer Christensen. Comment: "First off, let me say THANK YOU so much! S Cubed was a lifesaver this past year as I moved from third and fourth grade to fourth/fifth/sixth and had a sixth grade choir for the first time. It made my life so much easier and made my students into pretty good sight readers! We used S Cubed most days to start choir rehearsal and it was my favorite curriculum resource I used this year. My students loved keeping score for forbidden pattern and earned some special treats when they hit their semester goals - plus it was good for recruiting as the fourth and fifth graders wanted to know about our score that was on display. They also loved to average their ascending and descending points for score the scale and kept a graph of our progress! It helped make something challenging more fun, let them see their progress, and had them asking for it on days it wasn’t in the plan. As a choir director learning the ropes, the video examples were priceless. It’s like getting to observe a master teacher from the comfort of your computer. Make the investment in S Cubed - it is so worth it!" Rating: 5/5 (extremely satisfied) |
April 30, 2023
Extremely satisfied
S-Cubed is exactly what every Middle School Music Educator needs in their toolbox! I was so excited when Mr. D offered the entire Mega Bundle for Google Drive. I attended one of Mr. D's on line trainings. (He offers those for free.) They are wonderful. I began with the Elementary Bundle . If you teach Elementary Music, you need this program too! I was new to my Middle School this year. They had no experience with sight reading and I was not sure where to begin. S-Cubed takes you and your students step by step through the process.
My students LOVE this program. I use it with ALL of my classes. My Choral students have found that sight reading can be fun and that they CAN do it! I also use it with my keyboarding students. We do have a wonderfully intense but friendly competition among my classes. This program teaches so much more than sight reading. I witnessed this program help to transform even my most challenging classrooms into a Family!
If you are looking for a GREAT resource, this is it! If you aren't sure it will work, it WILL work! If you are feeling a bit afraid of teaching sight reading, do it anyway! I have grown as a musician right along with my students! If you aren't sure you want to purchase it, DO IT! It will transform your classroom!
March 14, 2023
October 20, 2022
| Dear Music in the Middle with Mr D, You've received the following comment and rating about your resource "S-Cubed! Successful Sight Singing and Sight Reading Course for Middle School" from Alicia Davidson. Comment: "I have REALLY enjoyed using this curriculum. It is so wonderful to have material each day that is already sequenced appropriately. As a professional it is sometimes hard to think about concepts that would be difficult for new readers (ie when the notes flip upside down), but Mr. D has broken it down to the smallest level to catch students at every level. I love the repetition each day really drilling the skills into the kids. Mr. D does a FABULOUS job of providing videos and teaching tools. I plan to use this every year!!!" Rating: 5/5 (extremely satisfied) Please note it may take up to 15 minutes for comments and ratings to fully display. You can reply to this feedback on your Comments & Ratings tab. |
I began creating and sharing S-Cubed in August 2013 one lesson at a time. People have been finding and using it since that time, and when I get emails about the difference it has made for teachers, I know the work to release it was worth it.
All reviews and ratings from the last two years are public on TPT. Here is a link to reviews of the Complete Bundle:
All reviews and ratings from the last two years are public on TPT. Here is a link to reviews of the Complete Bundle:
You can also see reviews of the individual lessons as I released them during 2013-2014 before I bundled them in April 2014.
Many teachers began finding the program during summer 2014 and have been using it all year. I am going to begin leaving some of the emails and Facebook posts of teachers who are digging into the program and sharing their results with me.
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3:30 PM (15 hours ago)
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Hello Dale,
I am sharing this with you second only to my principal--all three of my choruses (6, 7, & 8) earned PERFECT SCORES in sight reading! And none of them were easy--7th and 8th (both 3-part mixed) had tricky intervals (re-ti and re-fa) while 6th (elementary, 2-part) had rhythms like half notes against 8th notes.
THANK YOU for all the wonderful ideas you generously share with your Georgia colleagues! You are making an amazingly positive difference in the lives of my Chorus students!
From a Facebook Post:
I had the privilege of attending Mr. D.'s workshop at the Georgia Music Educators Conference this past January, and I was highly intrigued. I checked out some of the promotional material after the event, and, after receiving less than ideal scores for LGPE sight-reading this year, I decided to purchase this curriculum, and the cool thing is that it is so much more than simple curriculum, although that's there, but, more importantly, it's a phenomenal educational philosophy packaged in such an accessible manner. I'm glad to have such a framework compiled by a public school teacher with non-auditioned groups that understands the struggles faced in similar classrooms all across the state. I can't wait to implement this next year in my 6th-8th non-auditioned choirs and see what happens (and maybe my next year's 7th graders will be ready for level 2 the following year!)!
P.S. If you've not checked out his blog, please do so. A recent article about motivating students for LGPE was very insightful and highly encouraging.
Ellie Wong So glad I purchased this bundle. Didn't look into this program until I started having issues with a particular school's choir. When I delved into this program, Mr. D said if I followed his plan I wouldn't have (sigh) all the issues that gave me grief in that particular choir. So if you buy it don't wait to use it but do it immediately and avoid the problems.
I always appreciate it when people post about S-Cubed in Facebook groups like "I'm A Choir Director" and Music Teachers.
Thank you so much for all the encouragement this year and this week especially!! I've been reading your blog and watched your video about second awakenings and you are so right! I'm not at the point anymore where I feel I can't do this job. I'm just in that funky place of knowing I can do it, but not knowing the details of how quite yet! If that makes any sense....
Anyway, I sincerely appreciate the extra time you've given me, I absolutely LOVE your program and tell my kids when they see, "Mr. D" on all the slides, who you are. I haven't shown them a video of your choirs yet, but I think I will do that this week or next.
Sincerely,
Rochelle Larsen
P.S. I give out dum dums to my kids when I ask questions and they LOVE it!! It works like a charm! I always pull those out when asking questions and it never fails, they perk right up and are eager to earn a treat!
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12:31 PM (1 hour ago)
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Hello!
I am LOVING S-Cubed and have been using it all year with my 7th and 8th grade choirs. Next year, I want to keep going with my future 8th graders and I think I remember hearing that there might someday be an S-Cubed 2 (maybe it was just an awesome dream!)? Do you know if it will be a reality or when it would be available? My district is weird with purchasing so I'd either have to get it within the next few weeks or not until August :-/
Thank you so much for all of the hard work you put into your curriculum and for sharing it with all of us! Your program has made such a difference in my classroom! I can't tell you enough how much I love this program!
Link to Roger Emerson's Facebook endorsement of S-Cubed in June 2015.
June 8, 2015 from Facebook:
This feedback made my day!
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Oct 9 (3 days ago)
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Seriously! I'm only on Lesson 5 with my students, but this is EXACTLY what my middle school program needed. I have taught middle school choir for 15 years, and have done sight-reading with solfege and hand signs the whole time, but have been so unhappy. I was constantly rewriting lessons to make them a better fit for my students. I was ready to sink my teeth into a major curriculum-writing project, when I stumbled across yours. (Mine would have never been so clever ;-)
Side note: I have 480 students this year and feel like I am drowning. This renewed fun in my rehearsals has been more of a blessing that you can imagine. With the large numbers I am always worried about the students who are falling between the cracks, and this has made engagement so visible, as well as helped students recognize their accomplishments as we progress. I'm spending less time behind the piano, and more time looking at their faces and really hearing their voices.
Anyway, thank you for taking the time to fill a void "in the middle".
And, can you add me to your mailing list?
Thanks Dale!
Dale,
I'm on Lesson 4 Day 2 with my 6th Grade Chorus. In my 20+ years of teaching, this has worked better than any thing else I've tried for teaching sight reading to chorus. For the first time, my students (and I) actually look forward to sight reading. They love Forbidden Pattern and are already shaking their heads "no" when they notice I'm trying to distract them. The ear training component has also helped me with rehearsing their choral music. I just have them sign and sing solfege for tough excerpts and all of a sudden they are getting it and it's much more in tune. The first day of Day 4 when they sightread notation (perfectly), I made a big deal out of it as you recommend (since I can't do a cartwheel I had a student do it). They are very proud of themselves and are really gaining confidence in their skills.
Thank you!
Dee Fitzpatrick
This is the answer a teacher gave on the ACDA Choralnet page. The question was from a band teacher who is now teaching chorus during part of his day, and he is struggling with what to do with the singers and how to teach reading to them.
October 26, 2015
December 11, 2015
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1:50 PM (10 minutes ago)
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Hi, Dale,
As I said on YouTube how helpful S-Cubed is for choir, I have found aspects of it immensely helpful with my band program. I especially enjoy how you have arranged the learning material related to key signatures. I have been using it with my bands, which means I've been using primarily solfege to explain scales. Thanks again for your work!
FEEDBACK
Betsy
I can't emphasize enough how much these materials have changed the way I teacher beginning sight-reading! This is clearly designed by someone who truly understands the middle schooler and the challenges faced by middle school choir teachers! Excellent!
December 11, 2015
From December 31, 2015
This was shared in a large music teacher group on Facebook on February 10, 2016. It included a beautiful video of the teacher's students singing an S-Cubed Sight Singing Example!
Posted on February 11, 2016 in a Chorus Director Group on Facebook.
From March 1, 2016
This came on March 4, 2016
March 17, 2016
March 18, 2016
Posted on "I'm a Choir Director" Group
on Facebook
March 25, 2016
Look for more partnership with Music Prodigy during summer 2016! I will share S-Cubed materials and S-Cubed supplemental materials on Music Prodigy!
March 28, 2016
From April 8, 2016
April 12, 2016
May 12, 2016
Colie Sue just had a super success recently with her high school students. She originally used it with her middle school students when she taught them. So, now, she says that it has helped her reach new heights with her high school students! Super happy to hear it!
June 9, 2016
Received this tagged message on Facebook. She's speaks about the dynamic the game from Lesson 1 of S-Cubed created for her in her class! This is awesome!
From July 24, 2016 "I'm a choir director" group---
From July 19, 2016
July 21, 2016
R
July 31, 2016
After presenting in Iowa (good times!) July 2016
August 22, 2016
After joining forces with Music Prodigy to enhance assessment and practice with S-Cubed, this email came in:
From September 13, 2016
From Sept. 15, 2016
On September 15, 2016, the question was, "Does it work with High School?"
Another excited user on September 15, 2016
September 26, 2016
From a Facebook Choir Director Group Conversation September 27, 2016
October 17, 2016
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10:53 AM (22 hours ago)
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Dear Mr. Duncan,
I am a middle school choir teacher in Wisconsin, and last year I started using your S-Cubed program with my middle school students. I first wanted to say, thank you! After my first year of teaching (2014-2015), I realized I needed more help in finding a curriculum that worked for this age group. I really appreciate how you "walk" us through each part of it. As a "newer" teacher, it has helped me improve my teaching and save me time! I've also used a couple of your other lessons on TPT. I like that I can "observe" your teaching techniques and style as you implement each lesson/concept.
November 22, 2016
Click on it to in order to see it more clearly.
December 8, 2016
December 15, 2016
December 27, 2016
January 2, 2017
From January 27, 2017...Had to post it in three screen shots...Thanks for posting Juliet! I need all the help I can get in order to spread the word about S-Cubed! Thank you so much!
From January 31, 2017
Dale,
Just wanted to touch base with you regarding my recent purchase of S-Cubed and Music Prodigy.
I am a high school choir director transplant (I just moved to the Seattle area, and took the first job offered to me in the area – and I thought it would be a good idea to get some experience teaching middle school). I’ve spent the last 12 years teaching high school choir.
Saying that the transition has been a culture shock is an understatement. I tried using resources and methods that worked great for me at the high school level, but have had limited success. I had seen your method posted for some time (my wife is a TPT guru and I stumbled upon it there, even before I saw anything on Facebook, etc. I was always comfortable with what I had before, and this year, I thought I’d use the resources that were provided to me in my new position.
After a hair-greying first semester, I was looking to make a change, and revisited your method.
After one day, my classroom is already transforming. The students are laser-focused when we play forbidden pattern (the only thing they’ve ever been laser-focused on prior to this was when the bathroom pass was able to be used). I love that it builds their aural skills without having to actually read any sheet music, but it’s still teaching “reading” in the sense that they are interpreting symbols and vocalizing those sounds into existence. I look forward to making the jump in lesson 4 to actual written examples, but will never forget the importance of building those aural skills, especially at this age.
THANK YOU! You just reduced my resting heart rate by about 15-20 beats per minute. J
Have a great day!
Jason Brinker
Komachin Middle School Choir
Share on February 7, 2017
February 16, 2017
March 7, 2017
March 9, 2017
A video endorsement from March 22, 2017
From April 4, 2017
April 20, 2017
May 2, 2017
From May 9, 2017
High School"... Part 9183 (!) from David Kahl...who began using it four years ago with his high school students!
From July 14, 2017 with high
school students
From a band teacher who is using
S-Cubed...Textbooks are a thing of
the past.
July 24, 2017
From August 8, 2017
From August 31, 2017
September 2, 2017
September 10, 2017
September 15, 2017
October 9, 2017
October 23, 2017 in "I'm a Choir
Director" Facebook group
November 4, 2017
Nov. 20, 2017
December 27, 2017 on Facebook
Here is the series of posts:
January 11, 2017
March 2018
From Glenn Obergefell
I appreciate so many things about your program. But here are a few. I love watching your videos, because they are loaded with fun goofy things that are so similar to the kinds of things I do. They are great, because they are getting me back to some of the things I used to do. 25 years in (14 years as a choir director), I have learned so much. But, with all the changes (including block scheduling, attendance on the computer every period, etc.) I have evolved a little away from some things (seamless flow from start of class to end, bell to bell, fast pace, etc). I do grades 8-12 and the Junior High has been getting more and more difficult for me. So your videos are reminding me and helping me get back to my old habits. It is so much more than sight singing. I especially appreciate the Daily Warmup. I have such trouble finding time to plan bellwork and I know it is crucial to classroom management. This is so helpful to me. I am so excited that I found this now to help end the year strong. I found your site by accident Thursday night. I did it for the first time Friday. I bought it Tuesday. The kids and I are having fun. Only one problem. They keep winning:) I have been doing this type of sight singing(without the game) with syllables for years so I guess that helps:) But of course their pitch is already better because of the fine tuning you are encouraging me to work on. The focus on half steps has significantly improved the pitch of my choirs already. We have a way to speak about the pitch issues throughout the rest of class as well.
Thanks so much for sharing your work. You are helping to impact the lives of children you will never know.
Take care, and I hope your school year ends really well!
April 10, 2018
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Apr 9 (1 day ago)
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Dale,
Last week at State Choral Performance Assessment every one of my junior high choirs received superiors in sight-reading, including one getting a perfect score. I just wanted to tell you my appreciation for choosing Enterprise for the District Pilot Program. It has completely changed my approach to sight reading. Prior to this year, I lived in constant frustration because I was not teaching my students to actually read and break down the page. I have told several other new teachers about this program and will continue to sing your praises. Thank you so much for choosing us!
August 6, 2018 in "I Teach Middle School" Facebook Group
From October and November 2018
Facebook "I Teach Middle School Chorus" Group
Hello All!!
I’m thinking about purchasing S-Cubed. The only problem is I don’t know what the curriculum includes. Is it PPT, worksheets, digital learning. Does it have a reward system so classes can compete against each other? Does it have the option to record so kids can evaluate their singing?
If you have it why do you like it and what benefits have you gained from using it?
I’m thinking about purchasing S-Cubed. The only problem is I don’t know what the curriculum includes. Is it PPT, worksheets, digital learning. Does it have a reward system so classes can compete against each other? Does it have the option to record so kids can evaluate their singing?
If you have it why do you like it and what benefits have you gained from using it?
With my population of kids I have to keep it FUN or else the funky sounds of CardiB and XXXtacion will only be what’s relevant in my class. I want my kids to ask for sight-reading or at least not sighhhhhhhh when I ask them to pull it out.
TIA
TIA
Juliet Smith-Snyder Kids everywhere hate sight-reading. Lol especially the daily dose of it. However, if you can find a way to reward them, it motivates them more. Dale does incorporate competitions.
The thing I like about S-cubed is that dale allows you to see things that most sight-reading curricula do not tell you. And he does this because he has had years of experience to figure it out. For instance, would you have ever have thought that something as simple as the stem directions of a note can SERIOUSLY confuse a student? There is so much more. He always makes sure to tell you problems your students will run into. Often it’s things we might never have realized. What seems so easy for us and seems like it should be easy for a middle schooler, is often quite difficult for them.
He is also very sequential. Our HS Director started team teaching with me this year and at first, she wasn’t sure she like the curriculum. She didn’t understand why I wasn’t just working in the keys we fight-read in. She wanted me to get their eyes memorizing thoSw three keys. With s-cubed, it won’t matter what key you use. It trains their eyes to read intervals. Also, it doesn’t focus on rhythms until about 6-8 weeks or so in. He is careful not to overload the kids and he is great at reinforcing concepts. Repetition is key. It’s not only the curriculum, but he tells you exactly how to teach it and can tell you what your kids will be thinking as well. This was a valuable tool during my first year.
And lastly, the best bestest thing is that Dale is a super nice guy and always willing to help. We are able to ask him questions and he always is very helpful. My kids love hearing about Mr. D. We make it personal. Sometimes we will send him a video of them doing the program and he will send a video back to them. They love that. This is the first year I have done s-cubed effectively. Worked “at” it the last two years. But I’m killin’ it this year. When I judge high school all-region choir competitions, I always feel like “wait...my MS’ers have been doing most of that!” They are way advanced and I have s-cubed to thank for that.
The thing I like about S-cubed is that dale allows you to see things that most sight-reading curricula do not tell you. And he does this because he has had years of experience to figure it out. For instance, would you have ever have thought that something as simple as the stem directions of a note can SERIOUSLY confuse a student? There is so much more. He always makes sure to tell you problems your students will run into. Often it’s things we might never have realized. What seems so easy for us and seems like it should be easy for a middle schooler, is often quite difficult for them.
He is also very sequential. Our HS Director started team teaching with me this year and at first, she wasn’t sure she like the curriculum. She didn’t understand why I wasn’t just working in the keys we fight-read in. She wanted me to get their eyes memorizing thoSw three keys. With s-cubed, it won’t matter what key you use. It trains their eyes to read intervals. Also, it doesn’t focus on rhythms until about 6-8 weeks or so in. He is careful not to overload the kids and he is great at reinforcing concepts. Repetition is key. It’s not only the curriculum, but he tells you exactly how to teach it and can tell you what your kids will be thinking as well. This was a valuable tool during my first year.
And lastly, the best bestest thing is that Dale is a super nice guy and always willing to help. We are able to ask him questions and he always is very helpful. My kids love hearing about Mr. D. We make it personal. Sometimes we will send him a video of them doing the program and he will send a video back to them. They love that. This is the first year I have done s-cubed effectively. Worked “at” it the last two years. But I’m killin’ it this year. When I judge high school all-region choir competitions, I always feel like “wait...my MS’ers have been doing most of that!” They are way advanced and I have s-cubed to thank for that.
Dale Duncan, a huge shout out to you and S-cubed. We had middle school honor choir auditions yesterday and this was the first year kids had to sight read. Not all of my kids made it, but even the seventh graders (with zero literacy skills before coming to me) did beautifully on the sight reading after 2 months of me using S-cubed. Thank you, thank you! 😍
From my TpT Store
FEEDBACK
Kevin S.
I can't believe how much my students enjoy this resource. I am blown away by what they are learning in class every day, and their technique and sound quality has improved in leaps and bounds. They never knew they could sight sing! Thank you.
October 24, 2018
Music in the Middle with Mr D (TpT Seller)
WOW! Thank you for taking the time to write this.
It's been 3 years since I completed the program, and I am so grateful that new teachers are finding it, and that it is working for them and their students. I've wanted to find a way to help chorus teachers since my first three years in the classroom (which were super rough), and I am thrilled to have found a way to do it.
It's been 3 years since I completed the program, and I am so grateful that new teachers are finding it, and that it is working for them and their students. I've wanted to find a way to help chorus teachers since my first three years in the classroom (which were super rough), and I am thrilled to have found a way to do it.
October 24, 2018 
(Edit)
(Edit)FEEDBACK
Kevin S.
I can't believe how much my students enjoy this resource. I am blown away by what they are learning in class every day, and their technique and sound quality has improved in leaps and bounds. They never knew they could sight sing! Thank you.
October 24, 2018
Music in the Middle with Mr D (TpT Seller)
WOW! Thank you for taking the time to write this.
It's been 3 years since I completed the program, and I am so grateful that new teachers are finding it, and that it is working for them and their students. I've wanted to find a way to help chorus teachers since my first three years in the classroom (which were super rough), and I am thrilled to have found a way to do it.
It's been 3 years since I completed the program, and I am so grateful that new teachers are finding it, and that it is working for them and their students. I've wanted to find a way to help chorus teachers since my first three years in the classroom (which were super rough), and I am thrilled to have found a way to do it.
October 24, 2018 (Edit)
(Edit)
Jessica E.
This is a wonderful product.
October 24, 2018
Music in the Middle with Mr D (TpT Seller)
Thank you very much for the feedback and rating!
October 24, 2018 (Edit)
(Edit)
Jessica E.
I cannot say enough wonderful things about this curriculum. It is amazing!
October 24, 2018
Music in the Middle with Mr D (TpT Seller)
Thank you very much for taking the time to leave this feedback.
October 24, 2018 (Edit)
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Jessica E.
This is the best sight reading curriculum I have ever found. Thank you so much!
October 24, 2018
Music in the Middle with Mr D (TpT Seller)
Thank you very much for taking the time to leave this feedback.
October 24, 2018 (Edit)
(Edit)
Marcia R.
I have been teaching my own plans for years. I appreciated seeing someone else's work. I really appreciate the steps I had missed (focus on ledger lines. LOVE the concept of silent singing. I have always taught Curwen hand signs but now they have a real life application. Already by students sing with more accuracy.
October 23, 2018
Music in the Middle with Mr D (TpT Seller)
You made my day! I tried to think of every trap I'd fallen into as I taught my beginners (like ledger lines and notes below and above the staff...and so much more) and share every secret I'd learned. Thank you for your purchase and for this awesome feedback!
March 9, 2019
From high school teacher Christa Fredrickson
Hi! Again! Year 2 of teaching and this year I took two groups to contest. My treble choir which is primarily sophomores and freshman and my advanced mixed group. Both got
s in sight reading and were deemed “Texas Good” by our judge!!! I’ve learned so much from your games and YouTube videos. Thanks for being an inspiration! I do hope to meet you someday at an ACDA or something so I can give you a hug! Thanks for all you share. You are a great resource for a new teacher!April 9, 2020
Jill Thompson Young on Facebook
Just wanted to say “Thank you!” I am an UNCG instrumental major who taught (and LOVED) elementary music in the same school for 23 years until my program was cut. So, vocally damaged me (I had undiagnosed nodules 3 years, permanent damage) was moved to middle school chorus at two schools. Even better, I spend only every other calendar year at each school (switch in January, two semesters in a row then move). I did have some clue, I taught sixth for years in elementary until they were moved to middle school and had an after school chorus for years. However, we never got past rounds, echoes and partner songs. Solfege in class, we usually got to a pentatonic scale then we moved to recorders and letter names. I was completely overwhelmed trying to plan everything. The high school director was a little bit of help, but he is in the same boat, instrumental turned choral (and he is my husband). I read about S-Cubed and you had a half-off sale one evening. Oh my gosh.....what a life saver! I don’t have to really think about that part now, you have it all laid out so well! My kids are reading really quite well! I wish I could have them a solid school year-we switch schools in January. But, this program is amazing! Thank you, thank you!!!! I just wish we could finish the whole level one....I have run out of time each semester. I also thank you for the mini concert idea....that has been an ideal addition. They even sight read for the parents! So, thank you for helping me be a much better chorus teacher and feel like I am doing a little more than surviving!
June 3, 2020
Dale,
I have been using your program for three years. For the first 10 years of my teaching career, I taught only band 4th-8th. I was very success in my previous district teaching band and had a great program that I had rebuild. When I moved districts to be closer to home, my new teaching assignment was both 7th-8th band and choir. My first year at my new school was a mess. It was like my first year teaching all over again. In this first year at my new school, the other elective teacher (computer) saw me struggling and did a search on TPT for choir material and found your program. That first year, I incorporated the forbidden pattern and kids loved it! That summer I purchased the whole program and it just took off from there. Moving forward, I have been using both levels for two years and have seen amazing progress with my students. The school closure this spring was heartbreaking for both my choir students and myself. We were one week from our annual Knott’s Berry Farm performance field trip and two months out from our adjudication and spring concert. This group of 8th graders loved the S-cubed program and are so smart. While teaching Level 2 this year, I would remind this group of students that they were learning theory and sight reading music like I had to in my undergrad years of COLLEGE! I was so looking forward to our festival and our upcoming performances. Our last performance before the closure was for our incoming 7th graders. I had the choir lined up in two lines facing each other. They sang a Polynesian folk song called “Tongo” acapella as the 6th graders walked through them into their assembly. The 6th graders and teachers could not walk through without smiling.
The other day, I received this email from one of my 8th grade choir students who got accepted into the high school's madrigals ensemble as the only freshmen. The second freshmen to be accepted in 20 years. Thank you Dale for creating this program. It truly save my career and made me a better teacher for both my choir and band students. Keep doing amazing work!
Thankful,
Deanne Cedar
Cesar Chavez Academy Music Director
Corona, California
April 16, 2021-from a teacher who discovered and began using the program during the pandemic! Good job Ashley!
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Hi Dale,
October 13, 2021
I just wanted to share an SCubed success.
I am new to my schools, district and state this school year. I took over a middle school program that has had a new teacher every year for the last 4 years (it’s an 8th & 9th grade campus). I also took over the high school program fed by the middle school. The teacher retired after 30 years at the same campus. There hadn’t been much focus on literacy on either campus. We’re fortunate to have been in school all year, and singing with masks.
I purchased the full SCubed program in November. I started using it with both schools in late January when I returned from maternity leave. My high school concert choir went to region choir festival (adapted for covid of course) this week. They received 3 superior ratings overall, but specifically high marks in the area of intonation from the judges. On the bus home as I read the comments to the kids. One yelled “We hit the bullseye!!” when I read the superior in intonation. They’ve worked super hard, and I know that our improvement in that area has a lot to do with SCubed. Thanks!! (BTW- we’re only on lesson 7 because I’m going SLOW and we meet every other day.)
It all made me smile, and gave me hope at the end of a long week. Hope it makes you smile, too.
Sincerely,
Ashley Ricks
May 9, 2021
August 12, 2021
Dear Mr. Duncan,
My name is Emily Stewart. I teach in a small middle and high school in southern Indiana, and this is my 5th year teaching. I originally wrote and sent this to your public Facebook account but received an automatic response to email here instead.
I’ve always taught sight reading via Kodaly methods, but after trudging along for the last 5 years with the same material, my students have grown bored. I thought I would try something new. I purchased your sight reading curriculum about 2 weeks ago via Teachers Pay Teachers. I’ve now been in school for a week, and I just wanted to take the time to say THANK YOU. Not only has it up’ed my lesson timing and pacing, but my students are gaining confidence already in their own ears and voices in just a few days, before any sheet music has been put in front of them.
After such a crazy year last year where we were not permitted to sing until May, my students have been eager to sing and learn again, and I owe a lot of that to you and your truly beginner friendly and FUN curriculum. Thank you so much, and enjoy the rest of your day.
Sincerely,
Emily Stewart
--Choral Director
October 6, 2021
From October 11, 2022 as we are all rebuilding our programs...
October 12, 2022
QuoteInbox
Hello Dale, I read this paragraph this morning and immediately thought of your philosophy with S-Cubed. After only using it for 9 short weeks, I can definitely witness that this is so so important! I will continue to thank you many times over for this wonderful method! When my students experienced success sight reading on the first day in Lesson 4, it was the best day I had in a long time! So rewarding and satisfying, both for them and for me. Have a great day! Kathryn | |||||||||
Hello Dale:
I hope you are doing well.
I just want to thank you again for SCubed. I am not at a secondary school any longer; I am at an elementary school teaching 5th grade music. However, I "assist" the 6th grade choir teacher. She is teaching sight-reading faithfully everyday. I can see some of the things that you said you learned years ago that brought about SCubed. These kids can chant like pros; but when they begin to actually sing, the pitches are all over the place.
On the flip side, my 5th graders are doing pretty good. I only see them every 3 weeks, but we are making progress just the same.
This is in no way to cut down the teacher I am with for 6th grade. It has been quite an eye-opener, though, for seeing just how much difference it makes.
Thanks again for your program! It. Is. Perfect.
April 10, 2025
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