Helps for Music Teachers Part 2

It’s August, as is one of the most important months for music educators.

During this month, planning must occur and while still on vacation, and one must design one’s curriculum for the year, at least informally. Planning must include crafting designs while anticipating the needs of all the students.  Devising functional classroom management strategies may require extra concentration. Communicating one’s philosophy through the personality of the actual classroom by arranging seats just right, for fostering a collaborative and student centered music classroom is priority. Remember that, reflecting the needs and accommodating all learning styles cannot be planned on day one of classes, but must be planned and designed before-hand.

Planning the music curriculum

Planning is a key component to the success for one’s music curriculum. After assessing the previous year, one should know how to better plan for the upcoming year.  The 10 week cycle that I have grown accustomed to, enables me to have the same elemental focus in theory for all four quarters, as students are able to expand their musical skills based on prior knowledge. With seven musical elements as the premise for music theory including melody, harmony, tempo, timbre, form, dynamics, and rhythm, the design is developed and differentiated according to the needs of the students.

How to accommodate the desires of students but still accomplish my music goals

I teach general vocal music and one consideration I have is for the boys in grades six through eighth grades to participate in the singing as much as the girls. Some love to sing while others are into a hip-hop culture and only want to wrap. However, my philosophy for music education will not allow me to relinquish the musical selections over for students to select all of the performing music. The result will be all deserts and no sustenance.  Remember at the end of 10 weeks I have to present students in concert. So, what do I do?

Stay tuned for the next post!!!