Be a stand out music teacher
Featured on Sunday 25 August, 2019
Be a stand out music teacher
Teaching music in the classroom will set you apart because music is unlike other subjects. No other subject is as accessible, inclusive and universally appealing as music. Embrace those points of difference to impact your students positively, even beyond the classroom.
Music is accessible...
All you need is your voice. No need for sports equipment, text books or even extra space as participants can sit or stand where they are.
When students' schedules are interrupted with an unexpected delay, music can save the day. If they are sitting down, try Chester. To fill in more time, add some inner hearing to calm those restless bodies.
If students are able to stand without it becoming disruptive, you could try One Man Went to Mow. The accumulating words and actions keep everyone engaged for an extended time.
Music is inclusive
Everybody can participate in music at their level, and enjoy it! In fact the more people involved, the easier it becomes to make truly amazing music.
The Goat is a perfect echo song and requires no preparation. Students can learn it "on the go" during bus trips or excursions. A great solution for proactively filling in time.
The Echo Song offers a little more versatility while still being easy to pick up. Challenge your high achievers with improvising phrases while continuing to keep everyone engaged.
Music is inspirational
Music is powerful in bringing people together, whether it's for a school showcase, fundraising endeavour or recovering in the aftermath of tragedy.
There's a Little Wheel is a sweet Appalachian folk song. Lead your students in gentle rubato to add poignancy. The five verses provide opportunity to feature small groups or soloists.
Peace on the Earth is a beautiful 3 part canon. The gentle flow of 6/8 metre and sustained notes evoke a sense of rest and peace while the soaring melody is pensive and melancholic and conveys a yearning to unite people. This canon is particularly suitable for a school community dealing with tragedy.
Music is universally appealing
With a little preparation it's possible to impress at very short notice. Lay the foundation by teaching Ushkadara in class across all year levels. Then amaze your fellow teachers when you pull together an impromptu performance with body percussion sound effects.
For a greater challenge prepare your students with the three canons All Things Shall Perish, Coffee Canon and With Laughter and Singing. Each one is impressive when sung as a round, but can also be sung together at the same time! That's 9 parts that you can include or remove depending on the abilities of the available students.
All these songs are fantastic for surprise visits from dignitaries or school officials, and inclusive for any number of students - from one class to a year level or even the whole school!
Conclusion
We don't need to confine music to our classroom - we can seek opportunities wherever they lie. Music gives us a toolkit of strategies that can save the day. By being proactive we can realise the full potential of music to positively impact our students and school community.
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