Musical Musings in Education

It's Easier the Second Year

2010-09-18T09:47:00.003-04:00

This is my first time teaching at the same school two years in a row. What a difference! The first day of school was great: seeing students and getting hugs. I knew what paperwork to expect, where everything was in my classroom, and what I needed to do to get the year off to a great start.

It's really neat seeing students I had last year remember what they learned last year. All the time spent drilling concepts into their heads was not spent in vain. Students who didn't say much of anything last year now throw their hands in the air to answer questions. They get excited when something they remember from last year finally makes sense. Several students said to me,"We didn't sing this well this early last year." And all I can do is smile and recognize that hard work does pay off. Students won't get bored reviewing music basics year after year because it boosts their confidence and makes them stronger musicians.

"Oh in the Woods . . ."

2010-08-02T10:08:00.002-04:00

Trust me when I tell you that this song is amazing. Add motions and you're all set. I used it in elementary school, and the students enjoyed adding their own verses. It became the end-of-class song they could sing if they behaved. So when high school midterms rolled around, I thought the students might enjoy doing something silly and fun in the middle of studying and review sessions. So they stood around the room and sang "Oh in the Woods." Little did I know that it would become the official pre-exam song. When finals approached, they requested the song again, and it was the perfect way to spend the last class of the year.
Don't think that because students are older, they won't enjoy the simple things. Try it out, and it might make a huge difference in your class.

Recital Day

2010-07-08T20:46:00.003-04:00

The perfect activity for the end of the year with any grade level. Students must sign-up ahead of time in order to participate, and they must cross their names off before class starts if they want to withdraw. Some of my favorite classes were "recital days" because students shared amazing talents. Everything from singing to dancing to skits to jumping on a pogo stick while playing the trumpet (yes, it happened, and I couldn't stop laughing).

As the teacher, it's a great opportunity for you to observe student relationships in the class. Do the students feel comfortable performing for each other? Do they clap and cheer each other on? Some of my high school students let me know that they could tell that the group grew close during the year, because otherwise recital day wouldn't have turned out so well. It became the "buzz" around the elementary school, and the school custodian told me students were telling him all about what they were performing. What a great way to end the year.

And be prepared . . . they'll want you to perform, too, so get ready!

Ask First, Then Tell

2010-07-01T08:13:00.003-04:00

Don't be afraid to ask your students what they think of a performance. Each time you practice a piece, ask them to reflect on how it sounded. I like to start by asking what they did well and if they effectively changed anything we've been focusing on in rehearsal. Then, I ask what they want to improve. Asking their opinions before I give them mine allows them to take ownership of their performance. It makes them pay attention, listening to themselves and others, while singing. It also causes them to take pride in their performance when they improve.

Create Your Own Environment

2010-06-30T08:53:00.002-04:00

At the end of the school year, I gave all of my students evaluation forms to assess both my teaching and the overall class experience. I will continue giving these evaluations for years to come because what they revealed was amazing. The students commented that they learned a lot during the year, but what struck me most was their description of the classroom environment. They wrote that they felt safe in class, that they didn't feel stupid when asking questions, and that they felt like part of a team that was learning together.
Part of me wasn't surprised at these comments, because I'd made intentional decisions throughout the year to ensure that my students would feel comfortable in the choral environment. I remember sitting in a high school classroom, not wanting to say anything because the teacher made me feel stupid. This is no way to learn or live, and I was thrilled that my students were learning because they felt safe.
So the question is, how do you achieve this with your students? Can I create the same environment next year? Part of the answer involves how you respond to your students. Show them that you respect them, especially at the beginning of the year. They need to trust your sincerity before you can joke around with them. Don't pressure anyone to answer a question, until you know who you can call on without making them feel isolated. The other part of the answer involves how students respond to each other. It's your job to make sure that students treat each other with respect and listen to their peers. No one wants to participate in a class when they're afraid of being put down by their peers.
It might seem overwhelming, but it's not if you consider this mind-set on the first day of school. The students will take their cues from you, so set the tone, and they'll follow your example.

It's Not Always About You

2010-06-24T06:15:00.002-04:00

It's true. Sometimes students can ruin your day by giving you a hard time. The attitude comes out, and you wonder what you did to deserve such treatment. One of the most important things I've learned is that is usually doesn't have anything to do with me as the teacher. Once I looked at student attitudes from this perspective, it changed the way I responded to my students. They have bad days just like I do. Stuff goes on at home and after school, and they don't leave their troubles at the door when they come to class. However, I can help them have a better day once they enter my room. Now, this is not to say that attitudes never have anything to do with me. I've had students who had issues with me and I had to deal with it. But a huge load was lifted from my shoulders when I considered that my job isn't to make my students happy all the time, which might sound strange, but it's true.

Moving On Up . . . to High School

2010-06-06T20:31:00.002-04:00

The transition from elementary school to high school was a lot easier than I expected it to be. People ask me how I survived the change, and here's what I answer:
1. Even though you're closer to their ages, don't try to be their friend. It may or may not come eventually, but definately not at the beginning of the school year.
2. Don't take yourself too seriously. Laughing at myself gives them permission to laugh at themselves.
3. Stay ahead of the game. Know what's going on in the school and what your students are participating in.
4. Keep smiling. You know you're ok when they say "hi" in the hallway.

The musical aspects are also important, but building strong relationships with students is the only way to build a truly successful program.

Tough Days

2009-02-20T22:39:00.003-05:00

I'm not going to lie - some days you'll want to pull your hair out. Not one of today's seven classes behaved. I try not to yell, but I actually turned the lights out on one class after yelling for them to sit down. Part of me felt like a horrible teacher, but the other part of me didn't want to let them get away with misbehaving. The students who were paying attention were glad that I said something. For the others, the Miss-Russell-yelling surprise factor wasn't necessarily a bad thing. You won't consider every day "successful," but remember this: every tough day gets you closer to Friday!

Small Treasures

2009-02-18T06:26:00.002-05:00

You never know how the school day will end. My Tuesday teaching schedule is crazy, and I'm definately ready to leave by the end of the day. But small treasures can appear even at the end of the day, which I discovered yesterday. The last Kindergarten class was walking out of my room when one boy stayed behind to talk to me. He asked me if he could tell me something the following week in music class. I asked if he wanted to tell me right then instead of waiting, and he took a second before deciding to let me know what he wanted to tell me: he gave me a big hug, followed by an even bigger smile, and walked out of the room. What a special way to end the day!

Give It Time

2009-01-23T19:45:00.002-05:00

I liked my job from the first day of school, but I certainly didn't love it. There were days when I wondered if I made the right decision, which happens with any job. By the time December break rolled around, I was ready to be done. December had been crazy with rehearsals and concerts, I couldn't remember half of the kids' names, and I was completely exhausted. But everything changed after vacation. I actually looked forward to going back, the kids were excited to be there. Without the immediate stress of concerts, I took time to try various lesson ideas, and the kids enjoyed the variety. My advice is this: if you're struggling with your career decision, deal with it. Stick it out. Every job comes with a learning curve. My situation was by no means unique, so know in advance that you will probably feel the same way. On those days that you want to throw in the towel, just do your job - smiling students are the best medicine!

Who Do You Know?

2009-01-14T22:04:00.003-05:00

Want to bring a speaker into your classroom? Who do you know? My fifth graders are studying music through the 20th century, so I asked my dad to take a class period introducing music of the 1950s and 60s. Rather then spending hours researching, I figured it would be even better coming from someone who lived in that era. As a kid, my dad spent hours listening to the radio and recording music. He can tell you the title, artist, and year of almost every song of that time period. He brought in his reel machine, so the students got to see something other than a CD player. We've been connecting music to historical events, so he discussed Martin Luther King and JFK, which was perfect because he spoke the week before MLK's birthday. He even played radio clips of the announcement of JFK's death. The students were impressed, and they were happy to sing along with "What the World Needs Now" and "Eve of Destruction." Think about who you know to bring into your classroom. The students will remember the experience for a long time!

General Education Meets Music Education

2009-01-13T21:03:00.003-05:00

Although it's easy to regard music as isolated from the general classroom, don't do it! Especially in an age when emphasis is placed on math, reading, and writing, music teachers can do their part to support the work that takes place in the general classroom. Actually, this work enhances the music experience. In my classroom we use Venn Diagrams to compare and contrast pieces of music (usually in a discussion of dynamics, instrumentation, tempo, and tonality). For another assignment, students listened to two versions of the same song and wrote a critique of their favorite versions (using complete sentences, of course). Incorporating different questioning techniques is also a wonderful way to encourage critical thinking. Have students perform a piece, or part of a piece, two times and decide which was better and why. Always ask WHY. Students won't expect the question at first, but they will learn to consider it before raising their hands. So don't be afraid to try different techniques, because you can help your students become better musicians and readers.

Don't Stress Over the First Lesson

2009-01-12T21:52:00.002-05:00

One benefit of being a music teacher is that you get to teach the same lessons several times in one week. I teach 6 kindergarten classes every week, and let me tell you, my lesson is solid by Friday afternoon. Mondays can be rough, but thankfully my schedule is such that I teach one class of each grade, so I have the chance to teach each lesson once. Teaching the same lesson 4 to 6 times every week was a drag at first, until I realized that each class gave me the opportunity to improve my teaching style and methods to meet the needs of my students more effectively. But I've learned not to judge my lessons based solely on Monday's classes. That doesn't mean that I don't do my best, but I also don't give up on a lesson objective if the first try bombs. So use each class as an opportunity to grow in your teaching, and take the time to reflect on what worked and what you can improve upon.

Sing For Them

2009-01-03T13:48:00.002-05:00

Never underestimate the simple things. Sometimes I find myself stressing over elements of my music curriculum. Can they read music? Do they understand what "steady beat" means? Can they sing in tune? But I've realized that although these aspects of music are important, there is another aspect which is just as important: do they appreciate music? Do they enjoy listening to concerts, CDs, and the radio? Is music an important part of their lives?

One of my professors in graduate school changed my teaching philosophy when he told the class to sing to our students. Just sing. Maybe a song that the students will never sing. It's about vocal modeling. Students hear different vocal models all the time, but it's my job to share appropriate vocal models with them when they're in my class. It's made a huge difference in their singing, and I'll never remove it from my daily lessons.

Since I sing echo songs with my first graders, I decided to incorporate an echo song into our December concert. A few weeks later, a 4th grader approached me and asked me why I didn't sing to her class like I did to the younger students. I didn't have a good answer, but instead made the decision to sing for my older students.

Here's another idea. My fifth graders are learning about music in the 20th century. We discussed that people used to gather and sing songs for entertainment instead of watching TV or playing vodeo games. So, all of the students gathered around the piano while I sang them "Bye Bye Blackbird." They thought it was the coolest thing. So if you have a class that you can trust to stand behind you while you play, go for it! Don't assume that your students will think that it's stupid. You might be the best model of a musician they'll ever see!

Surviving Holiday Concerts

2008-12-29T19:10:00.006-05:00

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!

2008-10-04T10:25:00.005-04:00

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

2008-09-14T20:51:00.010-04:00

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

2008-09-12T21:46:00.004-04:00

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

2008-09-06T14:37:00.000-04:00

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.