When it comes to student work in music classes, it can be difficult to collect student work because much of what students do in music classes is not normally written down. Singing, playing instruments and improvising produces no tangible artifact that can be collected into a folder and shared with students, teachers and parents. While … Continue reading How to Build a Music Portfolio
music literacy
What Happens If Your Student Makes A Mistake?
There are two things that ought to be closely related, but often are not. Those two things are practice and excellence. I don't mean that practice doesn't lead to excellence; we all know that it can and often does. But what I'm talking about is a growing belief among people of all ages that somehow … Continue reading What Happens If Your Student Makes A Mistake?
Switching from One Rhythm Syllable System to Another: Helping Students Work Through The Transition
One of the challenges some music teachers face is sharing students with other music teachers. While it is great that a child might be in band, chorus, and or general music or other music offerings, if a child learns the same concept two or even three different ways, confusion can result. A music teacher must … Continue reading Switching from One Rhythm Syllable System to Another: Helping Students Work Through The Transition
The Importance of Early Music Listening Experiences
With all of the evidence suggesting that listening to classical music early in life has cognitive benefits, an article on early listening experiences could be all about how music promotes brain development. That is not, however the topic of this piece. Instead, I want to write about the importance of early music listening experiences in … Continue reading The Importance of Early Music Listening Experiences
Success Starvation
I teach in an inner-city urban school. With many of the students I teach, there is a kind of starvation that has nothing to do with food. The children get a nutritious breakfast and lunch at school every day, so their dietary needs are being met. But they are still starved--starved for success. I have … Continue reading Success Starvation
Troubles with Singing
One element that is important to accurate singing is beginning on the right pitch. I was reminded of this recently while I was scoring a solo singing assessment I had just given my second grade students. Students were given a prerecorded cue of the last four beats of the song being sung, and the last … Continue reading Troubles with Singing
You’re The Guide, Now Where Are You Taking Them?
When I write my lesson plans, a lot of thought goes into stating a goal, finding materials, and ordering everyithing into what I think will be an effective progression of steps that will guide my students through the lesson and what I want them to do, leading them to the destination of the goal. While … Continue reading You’re The Guide, Now Where Are You Taking Them?
The Real Issue Behind Rewarding Students
Motivation results from knowing what you goal is and finding value or enjoyment in meeting that goal. The less value or enjoyment that is found in a goal, the less motivated a person will be to work at achieving the goal. In such instances, in order for the goal to be met, unrelated incentives need … Continue reading The Real Issue Behind Rewarding Students
Connecting the American Civil Rights Movement with Music of the South Africa
Recently, after doing a week of music classes on music honoring or about Martin Luther King, (see related post here), I realized that songs sung by civil rights protesters in South Africa bore a striking resemblance to those used in the American civil rights movement. I planned music lessons around a few of those songs, … Continue reading Connecting the American Civil Rights Movement with Music of the South Africa
Learning New Instruments to Teach
I am an early adapter. Without overdoing it, I find the challenge of new things exciting, especially if I have chosen to initiate something new, and if I believe the new thing will be beneficial to my teaching and my students. While there are positive aspects to being comfortable with change, their are also liabilities. … Continue reading Learning New Instruments to Teach
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