Thoughts For The New Semester

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As my colleague and I prepare for the second semester of teaching a church choir, many things come to mind. How can we fit it all in? How can we make it fun? How can we do it so that we are ready for when we sing in public? Experience answers these questions in part, but because we as educators are always trying to improve every year, they are always explored.

This is a new experience for me. I have always been in a school setting, never in a church. Each of the 3 choirs has rehearsal once a week and I am responsible for the music theory portion of their lesson. I love this job, by the way!!! The kids are great and my colleague is FABULOUS!! For the first time in a long time I am able to really slow down and look at what I teach with a more focused eye. Sometimes when one teaches in a public school, there is little time for reflection. Everything is so busy and demanding. In this setting, I am more in control of time and curriculum. I am enjoying the “sabbatical”!

So to get back to my earlier questions: How can we fit it all in? How can we make it fun? How can we do it so that we are ready for when we sing in public? I guess the answer to this is the same one to the question “How do we succeed in life?”. Take each day (or rehearsal in this case) and do the most and best you can with it. I remember seeing a YouTube video awhile back of Will Smith speaking about success. He related his life to a brick wall. Every day represents a brick. He felt is was his job to lay the very best brick in the most thoughtful way each and everyday, so that at some point he would be able to step back and see the most wonderful wall. His theory has proved correct! It sounds like a great start!

A Balancing Act!

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Vintage Balance ScaleI am now teaching Note Knacks to children in a choir. They sing with my colleague for half the time and are with me for the other half. It works quite well! I have never had so much to teach in so little time! ….even after teaching in public school for over 15 years! The great thing, though, is that I have learned a very important lesson: kids need scaffolding, but they catch on very quickly.

When I had a full 45 minutes, I would take several classes to lead up to a concept, constantly thinking about the learner with the most challenges. Because there is so little time, I have had to skip most of the background and just get to it! Students are doing really well! I know that I still need to check in with them to make sure they are all getting it, but on a whole I have been amazed at how well they are grasping the concepts.

Good teaching always entails finding the careful balance between giving as much support as possible and letting go so that they can figure it out on their own. In most cases outside factors hinder this: lack of actual classroom time, behavioral issues, admin overstepping and the like. So how do we teach our students in the way that makes the most sense for them?

A couple of things come to mind:

First, we need to think about using every minute that we have in a constructive way. The more time we keep kids engaged, the more they will want to learn! It will also cut down on behavior issues….busy kids do not have time to fool around! More importantly, kids will come away grasping more of the material. A win win.

Second, push your students. Build self confidence by having faith in their abilities and showing them what they can accomplish when they try hard.

Third, we need to fight for our time with kids. This does encourage vocalizing the need for a cohesive music program that is not interrupted constantly, but it also means creating a program that principals and others in the school community want to support. We need the whole community in our corner when money and time cuts are on the table.

Teaching is always a balancing act; this is where the “Art of Teaching” and the “Mechanics of Teaching” meet! Have fun!

What To Do With Behavior?

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Yesterday I taught a group of young boys and they were as energetic as one might expect. They enjoyed joking around and being silly. The question that occurred to me was: at what point does having a good time turn into being disruptive? The short answer is always: when the students are not learning any more. The long answer entails a great deal more thought.

We want our students to enjoy our classes. We want them to have memories that will last them into adulthood. We also want them to learn the material. I think it is the work we do in the beginning that is key. When I first began to teach, I was told by seasoned teachers not to smile until Christmas; be as hard as you can in the first semester so that later you can relax a bit. Although I never followed this advice exactly, I still think it has merit to a certain degree. If systems are in place, then kids know how far they can push the boundaries. When kids know their boundaries, they feel safe and everyone can relax and have a good time!

There is a great book out there called “Tools For Teaching” By Fred Jones. In it, he speaks about setting up routines in a way that also tackles behavior. For example, the way in which kids enter your classroom makes all the difference in the world. He speaks about lining them up outside the door and waiting for everyone to be quiet. This gives the signal that they are about to enter a place to learn. It acts as a centering mechanism. Yelling for children to be quiet is not necessary. The teacher explains that we are practicing. (This is a great concept to learn, for we are musicians and practicing comes with the territory!) So when a student is still talking or calls out during this time, there is no need to get angry, we simply need more practice. Fortunately, the other kids will step in. They have no desire to wait in line until that student is quiet, so peer pressure kicks in nicely! Eventually, the child will be quiet and everyone can move on.

I have used this technique and it works very well. The lesson that follows runs much better, as well as future line ups and classes. Kids understand that you mean what you say: we aren’t moving until everyone is quiet. I once stood outside my classroom with a third grade class for the full 45 minutes. Although there was no music learning that day, we were able to learn a lot more in future classes because that problem was solved.

The only side note I would add is that you need to know your kids! There are some with special needs that simply do not have the capacity to follow certain directions. In those cases, a separate behavior plan set up in advance is needed.

The goal is always for our students to get as much out of our classes as possible. When behavior is handled, the rest is easy!

You can order your copy of “Tools For Teaching” By Fred Jones HERE: http://shop.fredjones.com/

 

The Ultimate Concert Checklist!

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The questionnaire

Before your panic really sets in as to how much needs to be done for concert season, we thought we would put together a checklist to help! Here is our Ultimate Concert Checklist:

2 Months Out:

  • Choose concert and dress rehearsal dates (be aware of other events going on)
  • Choose Venue (be aware of where to receive keys and alarm codes)
  • Ask a student or students to design and create posters and invitations
  • Write short press release to put in local paper

6 Weeks Out:

  • Get event in all known school calendars
  • Create Facebook event (can have students create short video commercials for Facebook page)
  • Find accompanist
  • Schedule a piano tuner as close to performance date as possible

4 Weeks Out:

  • Send invitations to important school and community members
  • Get event on school marquee
  • Put commercial #1 on Facebook (Provided that you have media releases specific for this)
  • Collaborate with Art teacher for students to create 2 invitations for friends and family members
  • Have students put up posters around schools and town (If the space allows it)
  • Get event on school website
  • Get event in PTA newsletter
  • Ask parents to be chaperones for event
  • Have a student or students create a program design
  • Schedule videographer, if desired (ask a parent volunteer)
  • Decide on uniforms/ concert dress

2 Weeks Out:

  • Decide a stage set up and plan how to execute
  • Commercial #2 on Facebook
  • Promote future concerts in concert program
  • Put your website and Facebook page in concert program
  • Get event in school bulletin
  • Send home note that explains dress, dress rehearsal times, concert times and other important info
  • Confirm with accompanist
  • Confirm chaperones

1 Week Out:

  • Have students practice entrances and exits
  • Practice stage presence and audience behavior
  • Print programs
  • Commercial #3 on Facebook
  • Confirm that all tech needs are taken care of

Day of Event:

  • Tech check (just in case)
  • Stage set up check

After Event:

  • Follow-up with thank-you notes to those important school and community members that attended
  • Remove posters
  • Celebrate with students on a job well done!

It Is Finally Here!!

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The Power Your Creative Mind Campaign has finally arrived!….so what does that mean for you? It means there will be plenty of material to power your creative mind! We know that you have busy lives and finding new and thoughtful material to add to your classroom can be difficult. We are here to make it easier!

Check back with us to find a concert check list, concert program ideas and a whole lot more!

ITS COMING……..

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The POWER YOUR CREATIVE MIND!! Campaign

Look for the links in your November Newsletter on October 15th! Sign up on our homepage at the bottom!

Our website will be jammed packed with:
• More Articles
• More Lesson Plans
• More Strategies
• More Solutions

More ways to Reach Your Students!