The summer months can bring challenges for music teachers wishing to continue music lessons to their students. Many families travel during the summer, as long anticipated and saved-for vacations finally arrive. Vacations naturally interrupt the regularity of weekly lessons. With some students, even those not going away on vacation, the mere arrival of summer months … Continue reading Music Teachers: Should You Expect Your Students to Take Lessons During the Summer?
music education
One 8th Grade Student’s Findings: The Benefits of Studying Music
Each school year, I teach a unit to my 8th grade classes on the benefits of music to their lives. Of course music gives no benefit to anyone on its own. Music is not a living, breathing creature that can actually do anything, in an active sense. Any benefit music has to us, it brings … Continue reading One 8th Grade Student’s Findings: The Benefits of Studying Music
Nothing Like A Good Band Concert
Recently, I published a post on the correct positions for holding musical instruments. That post was brought to mind today as I was in attendance at a school band concert. It was a recruiting concert, so the director was having each section play the same tune, giving the young audience a chance to see and … Continue reading Nothing Like A Good Band Concert
Why Doesn’t That Reed Play Well?
Not all reeds are created equal. Reeds are often of inconsistent quality, and many do not play well enough to be of use. With this in mind, and assuming that you do not have the time to make your own single reeds, here are some ways you can improve the way you select and place … Continue reading Why Doesn’t That Reed Play Well?
The Big Payoff
We teachers live for the big payoff. The moment when the students connect the dots and finally "get it." This morning, I was able to enjoy moments like that with both of my 5th grade classes. Last week, they received printed music for the round Gaudeamus Hodie and worked independently at sight singing it with … Continue reading The Big Payoff
When A Graduating Class Makes A Choir
Every year, the graduating class at my school sings a class song at their graduation ceremony. We spend time considering possible songs, and after two classes, vote on which song will be sung. There are always some among the the minority that are unhappy about the selection, and there are always some who insist they … Continue reading When A Graduating Class Makes A Choir
Why We Sing, Why We Play
Music teachers often work on musical works with their students for one of two general reasons. They learn to perform a work for a concert, or to teach a skill or concept. Of course, good music teachers teach skills and concepts while teacing concert pieces, but the purpose for selecting the work is different. With … Continue reading Why We Sing, Why We Play
Going Beyond the Lesson Plan for Quality Teaching
The first grade class came in and took their seats. I called for them to S.L.A.N.T. and they quickly did so. S.L.A.N.T. is an acronym for sit up, listen, ask & answer, nod when you understand, and track the speaker. I learned it from the book Teach Like A Champion. I then started the song … Continue reading Going Beyond the Lesson Plan for Quality Teaching
Defining Some Words in the New Standards for Creating Music
The new music standards are published, and there are some interesting choices of words in them that tell us a great deal both about music and how it is to be taught. The first series of words that caught my attention were the verbs describing what students will be doing when they create music. In … Continue reading Defining Some Words in the New Standards for Creating Music
What Approach is Best to Handle Defiant or Whiny Students?
During the course of my teaching day, I have many opportunities to prevent or respond to undesired behavior. Though no two children are identical, I have noticed that undesired behavior often can be placed into one of two categories: defiance or whining. Children who dig in and refuse to do what they are asked frequently … Continue reading What Approach is Best to Handle Defiant or Whiny Students?
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