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 inavility 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
Music Education
A practical guide to planning, teaching, and assessing music instruction.
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
Education Is In A State of Financial Peril
Municipalities have spent a large amount of money on fighting the COVID-19 virus in their communities. St. Louis had spent 2.3 million dollars in April. The School Superintendents Association estimates the average school district will spent 1.8 million dollars on COVID-19 expenses just to reopen schools. Kansas City will spend more than $2 million on cleaning, … Continue reading Education Is In A State of Financial Peril
Best Practices for Distance Learning
As teachers prepare for the start of a new school year, there is plenty of uncertainty and controversy over just what that re-opening will look like. One thing that does not seem to be much in doubt is that some measure of distance learning will still be needed. Whether districts decide to keep all students … Continue reading Best Practices for Distance Learning
What Will It Take To Allow Children to Return to School During The Pandemic?
As the COVID-19 pandemic persists into the next school year, most districts are facing the question of whether or not they should re-open schools, and if so, how to accomplish a re-opening that is safe for students, their families, and teachers. An examination of this issue raises many questions, all of which are difficult to … Continue reading What Will It Take To Allow Children to Return to School During The Pandemic?
Social Justice in the Classroom: What Is It and How Does It Work?
During the present time, one can hardly avoid hearing the term "social justice" on a daily basis. People in great numbers are demanding it, apologizing for avoiding it, and expressing anger at being denied it. The phrase contains two words, both important to understanding its meaning. Social refers to friendly, mutually beneficial relationships. From the word … Continue reading Social Justice in the Classroom: What Is It and How Does It Work?
