Surviving Holiday Concerts

I did it. I survived two holiday concerts in two weeks (oh, the joys of working in two buildings). As the performances approached, I wasn't nervous about the students' singing (we started working on concert music the second week of school, the students just didn't know it), but I was nervous about proving myself to my peers and the students' parents. It was my first opportunity to show everyone that I was qualified to teach music, and I didn't want to blow it. In the end everything went very well, and the principals and parents were pleased. So my advice is this: don't give up or get discouraged. Obviously you can't give up on the concert, but don't "give up" on the concert being a success. Plan ahead so that your students have time to learn the music and feel comfortable performing. Have back-up songs ready if others don't work out. I threw out one song a month before the concert and inserted a song that I was working on with another grade. The students sang it in canon with an ostinato, so it was grade-appropriate. It's also important to be mentally prepared. Walk through the concert in your mind during the day, so the evening performance holds fewer surprises. And don't forget concert programs - they're the perfect way to tell your audience what your students have been learning in class!

Routine, Routine, Routine!

I've realized how important it is to establish routines in the classroom. Then students know what to expect, and you as the teacher don't have to waste time explaining what you want done. For example, my students know that when I hold two fingers the air, they are supposed to get into "Position Two," or sit up straight to be ready to sing. I don't even need to hold up fingers sometimes because they tell each other how to sit! I've found that the best thing I did was to hang dance formation diagrams in my classrooms. After spending one day placing students in Longways Formation, it was wonderful to see them do it themselves in the next class. Yes, it took some time during the first lesson, but it saved several minutes in the following weeks. Especially when I had my first cold of the year and was working to save my voice for singing. All I had to do was point to the diagram and the students knew what to do. So the moral of the story is this: Take time in the beginning to tell your students what to expect, and you'll save oodles of time in the future.

Great Activity for the First Day of School

To give credit where credit is due, this idea was given to me by a friend who also teaches music in the area. Each student wrote his or her name on a piece of colored paper. The younger students drew a picture, and the older students wrote their favorite activity in music class. It was a great way to learn names, incorporate writing, and listen to music all at one time. When the students came to class the next week, they were thrilled to see their names posted on the bulletin board.

It's All in Your Attitude

It's Friday. I haven't been this happy in weeks. And yet, looking back on the past week, it was perhaps the most influential week that I'll have all year. Monday and Tuesday I was convinced that I wouldn't truly love my job ever again. Two days of telling students to quiet down is enough to drive anyone a little crazy. However, for some reason, I woke up Wednesday morning with a strong desire to change things. I was determined to actually enjoy the job I've been studying for. I remembered a particular class during my student teaching experience consisting of 7th grade boys. Yes, all boys, and they were my favorite class. I remembered how my attitude was more pleasant and encouraged the students to learn and make music. That memory made me get out of bed while it was still dark and embrace the day. By the time I got to school, I was excited to see what would happen if I cut the students some slack and let them be kids. Well, it worked like a charm. I haven't enjoyed a day more than Wednesday . . . until Thursday came around and I experienced another wonderful day. An attitude check is never a bad thing - remember to do them often!

Behold the Magic of the Tuning Fork

I didn't know what to expect during my first day as a teacher in a public school, but I figured that I might as well look the part, so I tied a ribbon to my tuning fork and hung it around my neck. It was the best thing that I could do as a new teacher! The students asked me what it was when they entered the room, which led to a brief discussion about sound and vibrations. It's also the best way to kill extra time when the teacher's a little late because you can walk around the room and let each student listen to the "Magic Fork." I couldn't believe how quiet the room was. It even drew the attention of students waiting to get on the bus.