Some school districts in the United States have announced that they are re-opening for in-person instruction 5 days a week beginning in January. While some parents will choose to continue some remote learning, many will welcome the return of sending their children to school. In my area, a recent survey found that sixty percent of … Continue reading We’re Back…Now What?
Music Education
A practical guide to planning, teaching, and assessing music instruction.
Virtues of “Old School” Teaching May Be Needed Now
The pandemic has highlighted a problem we all knew about before, but too frequently had not solved: that of the "education gap." This refers to the disparity of opportunities and achievement between districts that serve children from advantaged communities, where needed resources are provided and numbers of disadvantaged children tends to be lower, and those … Continue reading Virtues of “Old School” Teaching May Be Needed Now
Navigating Conflict with Conversations
I'm sure we have all experienced being sidetracked in our lessons by students' emotional flareups. Sometimes they come without warning, other times we see the knarled brow and clenched fists from the moment a child enters our classroom, communicating to the observant teacher that the child's emotional condition is volatile and that the child could … Continue reading Navigating Conflict with Conversations
Natural Learning
Have you ever said, in the middle of a bad day, "I can't get out of my own way?" In situations like that, it seems the harder we try to get on track, the worse it gets. The more effort we expend, the worse are the outcomes. Then there are other days when everything seems … Continue reading Natural Learning
Rethinking How We Teach Chorus
Chorus in many ways is the perfect means for providig music making opportunities to non-musicians. After all, except in rare cases, we all have voices and we all can use those voices to sing. Actual inability to sing in tune is extremely rare, and most people in a safe environment free from judgement and negative … Continue reading Rethinking How We Teach Chorus
Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy and Beginning Music Students
Often, teachers ask how Bloom's taxonomy can be used with beginning students. Because this taxonomy is usually taught to teachers in the context of teaching high order, critical thinking skills, it is easy to suppose that using Bloom's taxonomy involves only cognitive skill that beginners or young students simply do not possess. But the taxonomy … Continue reading Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy and Beginning Music Students
This Year, How To Begin
It's time for the new school year to begin. That usually means students and teachers return to their buildings, exchange stories of an enjoyable summer, and except for light hearted complaints about how the summer break was too short, everyone is generally glad to be back, able to see their friends again and get back … Continue reading This Year, How To Begin
How Do Children Choose An Instrument to Play, and How We Can Help?
If you have ever taught beginning instrumental music, then you have seen children get very excited about choosing and receiving their instrument. Often, the music teacher will demo instruments at an assembly, and then distribute paperwork to take home and return to parents with the parent's permission to begin lessons, and the child's instrument choice. … Continue reading How Do Children Choose An Instrument to Play, and How We Can Help?
What Are Ways To Improve Remote Learning As Schools Re-open?
Many teachers, having struggled to deliver effective remote learning to students when their schools were abruptly closed last spring due to cover-19, are now faced with schools re-opening with remote learning still in place, either alone or in combination with face to face instruction. Some school districts have provided professional development aimed at equipping teachers … Continue reading What Are Ways To Improve Remote Learning As Schools Re-open?
Black Classical Music Composers That Matter
It takes little effort to realize that the standard classical music fare one finds in orchestral concert halls and, though to a lesser extent, in the catalogues of recorded music, is and has been markedly deficit in black composers. While there have been notable recordings of music by black composers, more attention to this music … Continue reading Black Classical Music Composers That Matter
