Palombo teaches string classes for third- fourth- and fifth-graders at Happy Hollow School and Claypit Hill School with Whitney Tandon, the elementary and middle school orchestra teacher. Palombo also helps to teach the fourth- and fifth-grade orchestras at both elementary schools, and occasionally observes and helps Tandon during Wayland Middle School orchestra rehearsals.

This isn’t Palombo’s first teaching experience. He took off five years from his bachelor’s degree, and during that time taught music one-on-one and in small groups.

“I really had a passion for teaching and wanted to go back to get my teaching license, so I could teach in the public schools,” Palombo said.

As a student teacher, Palombo is required to teach at two different levels of music. For example, Palombo is required to teach at the middle and high school levels, middle school and elementary school levels or elementary and high school levels. Instead, Palombo teaches at all levels of Wayland Public Schools, observing and assisting his host teachers, Whitney Tandon and Susan Memoli.

So far, Palombo has enjoyed his experience in Wayland because he has learned to apply the skills he learned in his classes at BU to students at every level. He also likes interacting with all the different kids of different age groups.

“There is no better way to learn the craft of teaching than to work with students in school settings because the immediate feedback that they provide helps me determine the effectiveness of my teaching,” Palombo said.

Before the Masquerade Concert, Palombo was busy conducting a piece to be performed at the concert by both Honors Sinfonia Orchestra and the String Orchestra.

Now, Palombo is assisting both high school orchestras with their preparation for the Winter Orchestra Concert by rehearsing concert repertoire. In Honors Sinfonia, Palombo is working on arranging “Hashivenu,” an Israeli folk song. For the String Orchestra, he’s doing something a little different by working in small groups with the students, so they can fine tune the specifics of their Full Orchestra music. This music includes Handel’s Overture from “Music for the Royal Fireworks” and “Sleigh Ride.”

Palombo will continue working at Wayland Public Schools until December 22.

“I wish I could stay here longer. Student teaching in Wayland has been a wonderful learning experience,” Palomo said. “And I will miss working with these talented, motivated students.”