Children are growing up with technology in a way most of us could never fathom when we were young. Even doctors visits and interviews are commonly held on Zoom. People regularly work from their home computers. It may sometimes feel daunting to try to figure out the best way to incorporate this new technology into teaching music when teachers have to also remember a list of other things like internet safety, age appropriateness, and lesson planning according to state standards. This article will list some ideas on how to successfully incorporate technology into your music classroom.
1. Educational Music Websites Educational music websites like this one can be easily incorporated into your lesson plan. They are often focused specifically for educating a certain age group and topic. You can use these free websites to supplement your lessons on music theory, sound-mixing, music history, or a number of other subjects. 2. Music Software Programs There are many music software programs available now which can be a resource for music teachers to incorporate into their lessons. Students who have their own tablet or laptop can compose a song on GarageBand or Audacity. MuseScore is a notation software app that can be used in classes to notate music. 3. Online Assessments Websites like Quizlet can help you make music assessments fun. You may be able to find flashcards and quizzes online which are already prepared, but if you want something specific to your students needs, these websites are very user friendly. You'll be able to make your own quiz in no time for your specific group. There are also websites which can produce crossword puzzles and word searches for you. All you have to do is plug in the vocabulary terms. 4. Online Rehearsal Platforms This is a technology which is being used more and more. Band members can now connect via the internet. My experience with some of these spaces has been that they are better quality in close proximity and can be difficult to set up, but if you are a tech savvy music teacher, you may be able to use these rehearsal platforms. It may not be appropriate for most classes, but could be a great tool for remote students or hybrid music classes. Whether we like it or not, technology is here to stay and kids are very comfortable with using it. Using technology in the music classroom can help you better connect with students who have that interest. Start by incorporating one thing into your lesson and aim to add something else every year. Before you know it, you will be using technology with ease.
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For many years, educators have stressed the importance of music education for childhood development. Numerous studies have been done over the years to prove the connection between social emotional, intellectual, and motor skill development in children who are exposed to music in early childhood. This article examines the benefits music education offers for early childhood development.
The Social Aspect of Music: Building Social Skills in Children Music is often a group activity, especially in the elementary classroom. This fosters children to learn to work together as a group and build social skills which benefit them in their every day lives. A recent study on the positive effects of music on the emotions of 3- to 12-year-old children published in the National Library of Medicine showed that children who were exposed to music had greater emotional intelligence, academic performance, and prosocial skills (Blascko-Magraner). Another study by Sabahat Burak examining the effects of music education on 3rd graders showed there was a significant difference between the control group and the experimental group which received social skills through musical play. The group that received musical education after 10-weeks was more likely to make eye contact, say "hello," say "thank you," and complete other social activities which were observed during the experiment. As a music teacher, I've seen the effects of music on the development of children repeatedly in the classroom. It is comforting to know there is evidence that supports music education in schools. The Intellectual Impact of Music on Children Studies have shown that exposure to music from an early age can improve language development, spatial-temporal reasoning, and mathematical skills. The Mozart Effect was a controversial study done in 1993. Rauscher claimed that Mozart's sonata K448 for two pianos helped people have better spatial reasoning skills after listening for ten minutes. Many people attempted to repeat his experiment with mixed findings. One interesting finding was that listening to Mozart's piano sonata helped reduce epilepti-form activity in people with epilepsy. Studies have found that listening to music activates a wide area of the brain. Because music has so many qualities which we understand through listening, such as rhythm, pitch, meter, timbre, and emotion, it ignites different parts of the brain (Jenkins). After five decades of research, a study by Dr. Ayca Akin concluded that incorporating music into math lessons significantly enhances children's mathematical abilities (Information). There were several uses of music relating to math which helped students perform better: Students who learned musical instruments, music integrated into the math lessons themselves to help teach math, and students who used music to alleviate math-related anxiety. Music Education Enhances Motor Skills in Children Dance is often incorporated into early childhood music education in schools. This has been shown to help develop coordination, balance, and fine motor skills. Also, learning about and performing rhythm in music strengthens these connections in the brain. In the article "Music Making as a Tool for Promoting Brain Plasticity across the Life Span" Wan and Schlaug explain their research has shown "music making can be an interactive treatment or intervention for neurological and developmental disorders, as well as those associated with normal aging." Reading music notation while playing an instrument or tapping a rhythm on a drum may positively affect children learn new motor skills. Music to Influence Emotional Well-being in the Classroom Music has been called the "universal language" due to its power to convey emotion despite language and cultural barriers. Listening to music produces endorphins, modulates moods, and reduces stress. These effects have a positive impact on psychological well-being and self-confidence. A study performed on 100 Nigerian college students found that musical interventions such as singing songs, analyzing librettos, designing musical instruments, playing pianos and handbells, creating artwork, and writing songs led to less aggressive behavior overall. Their aggressive behavior had included teasing, threatening, and starting fights with other students. They used percussion instruments to express their anger and a significant decrease in aggression was observed. In conclusion, music plays a very important role for early childhood development. The act of performing and listening to music helps social emotional, intellectual, and motor skill development. It should be a priority for schools to maintain their music programs. References Blasco-Magraner, Jose Salvador, Bernabe-Valero, Gloria, Marin-Liebana, Pablo, and Moret-Tatay, Carmen. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8037606/ "Effects of the Educational Use of Music on 3- to 12-Year-Old Children's Emotional Development: A Systematic Review." (April 1, 2021) Accessed 5-12-2024 Burak, Sabahat. "The Effect of Musical Play on the Social Skill Development of Primary School Students." (November 29, 2023) https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1416190.pdf (Accessed 5-12-2024) Jenkins, JS. "The Mozart Effect" April 2001 p170-172. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1281386/ (Accessed 5-12-2024) Information. "The Powerful Connection: How Combining Maths With Music Can Improve Students' Scores." https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/176-information/study/23819-the-powerful-connection-how-combining-maths-with-music-can-improve-students-scores.html June 29, 2023. (Accessed 5-12-2024) Wan, Catherine Y. and Schlaug, Gottfried. "Music Making as a Tool for Promoting Brain Plasticity Across the Life Span." https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1073858410377805 October 1, 2010. (Accessed 5-12-2024) Nwokenna, Edith N., Sewagegn, Abatihun Alehegn, and Falade, Temitope Ayodeji. "Effect of Educational Music Invervention on College Students' Aggressive Behavior." January 6, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9829255/#:~:text=Results%3A,counterparts%20in%20the%20control%20group. (Accessed 5-12-2024) Concert season is here and it's time for the dress rehearsal. It's easy to obsess about the musicality of your upcoming performance. Yet, there are so many other things to remember which go into a good show and make everything run smoothly. Don't forget to check these concert to-dos.
1. Don't forget to tune Everything was ready, you were running around making sure not an issue occurred. The group looked good. They got up on stage and you gave them a great introduction. Then, they started playing and you realized they were out of tune! Now the song has already started. You are horrified. Don't let this happen to you. You will be busy, so pick a good student to oversee tuning. And then put it on your list to check their tuning! 2. How are you entering and exiting the stage? Practicing entering and exiting the stage is very important to do during a dress rehearsal. This will give your group a professional feel. Believe me, someone will try to run across the stage to get to their place. Show them how you want them to get up and down from risers. How should they hold their instrument in rest position. When should they exit. Will they take a bow? 3. Don't leave your chords in a mess If you have little ones on the stage or even a nervous adult, be careful to wrap your chords. Don't leave a bundle of cables anywhere on the stage. You can tape down long cables so no one will trip over them and keep everything nice and neat. You'd be surprised how easily feet can get tangled. 4. Do you have extra batteries for your wireless mics? You used the mic during rehearsal and it was working. Now, it's the concert night and the mic is flickering on and off. Make sure to have lots of fresh batteries. If you can, even keep an extra mic on the sidelines. In fact, having extra cables is a good practice as well. Don't let a good concert get canceled because of technical issues. Click the link to learn about what mics to use for your performance. 5. What are you going to say between songs? It's a good idea to plan what you will say between songs. Some people can just wing it, but most of us deal with nerves. You can write out the entire script or give yourself some flashcards with a few notes on them. Writing a script will also help you sort out those transitions and make sure the flow of the concert is just right. 6. Did you plan for transitions? Speaking of transitions, if there will be a costume change, or class change, plan, plan, plan. You should practice all transitions ahead of the concert. You should also plan on keeping the audience occupied with some additional jokes or catchy story while people are scrambling behind the stage. If you know exactly how long these transition will take, you can plan to fill up the time and not have an unusually awkward pause. 7. Will you serve food? The concert may be an hour or longer, but people will be smiling when refreshments are served afterwards or during an intermission. Serving food to the musicians as well gives a great opportunity to celebrate the performance and a job well done. 8. Do you have clips to hold down sheet music if you're outside? If your concert takes place outside, make sure to clamp down the music. If you don't have clamps, you may have to resort to tape, although that ruins the sheet music. Watch out for page turns as well. On a windy day, when all the music is clamped down, it will be very difficult to turn pages. It may be important to factor this in and make sure a few tunes are memorized. 9. Do you have lighting for the music? If your concert is inside in the evening and lights will be dimmed, be sure to get some lighting on the music stands. It would be very terrible to get to the concert and not be able to see the music. Yes, this has happened! Music stand lights are readily available, so plan ahead for it and test out the lighting when you do your dress rehearsal. 10. Did you remember the program? Don't get caught without a program. It looks professional and helps the audience know what the overall plan of the concert is. Programs are a good place to highlight your soloists. You can also give background information about the music or a special guest performer. Concert programs make a good keepsake for that proud parent as well. I hope all these tips help your concert turn out great. Just remember above all else, to have fun. When you enjoy the performance, that energy will rub off on the musicians and they will also enjoy the show. To download a free post-concert evaluation for your students click here. It seems like we are just coming back from summer break and already the anxiety over Winter/Christmas Concert is looming. After a few years, it gets more difficult to pick songs that your students haven’t performed yet, and so begins the internet search. Or you’ll get that kid who says, “Teacher, we performed that in 2nd grade,” while rolling their eyes! A few things to consider… It’s a good idea to be in communication early on with your principal. Find out the rules about performing or not performing religious music. Find out what the style of your principal is. You are not only pleasing kids and parents but your superiors as well. Some principals are really easy going while others will micro-manage every aspect and comb through every lyric. I like to have a meeting with my principal at the beginning of the school year and then email them the concert links and lyrics (with any changes) as soon as I can. Be sure to tell them that this is a work in progress so they can put their input into it as well. Here are a few ideas for Winter Concert Themes with some song examples. Santa Claus Concert A Santa themed concert can be really fun, and if you know someone with a Santa costume, you can bring them out at the end to spread the holiday cheer.
Winterland Every one likes snow in December. Try a concert with a Winterland theme.
Rock and Roll Theme Everyone likes an upbeat concert. Let’s rock and roll!
Silent Night Christmas
Christian Music If you teach older students or at a Christian school, consider a Christian themed concert.
Hollywood Christmas We all love our favorite Christmas movies during the holidays. Pick some songs from films and television.
Simple Gifts What is winter without the spirit of giving? Try a gift based winter concert theme.
Christmas Tree Theme Trees are mentioned in many Christmas songs and winter poems.
Christmas Around the World Christmas music has a rich history all around the world. A Christmas around the world concert can help kids with different cultural backgrounds feel included.
Shiny Bells How many songs mention bells? Try a shiny bell themed concert and even bring out the jingle bells for the little ones to play.
Multi-Cultural Holiday Traditions You can celebrate different winter and holiday cultures such as Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa as well.
Peace
After all the hustle and bustle is over, hopefully we are filled with peace. Here are a few songs for the occasion.
There are so many songs that it would be impossible to list all the themes and songs for each, and of course there is a lot of overlapping in the lyrics. Use this as a beginning and let us know in the comments if you have any more ideas! Going back to class can be daunting after a long summer break. Elementary class is filled with miraculous moments of children coming together in beautiful harmony, learning that Christmas concert song just in time, or giving you a fond smile as they hand you a handmade gift with a note that reads, "Best Teacher Ever." But there are also those times when eyes role, children group together to exclaim how much they hate an activity, and one sincere question from a student sends the class into chaos. Let's be honest, you may be hesitating a little on finalizing your lesson plan this year, and with good reason! Will you meet the Music State Standards? Will you end up boring kids with too much theory? Here are ten steps for a successful elementary school year.
1. Procedures, procedures, procedures Before you roll out your lesson plan, mentally go through every aspect of your lesson time from the first second you see them until the very last student exits the room. You can't decide to have a morning activity if you don't know how they enter the room. Will you set the activity out? Will they form a circle? Sit in seats? Is there a welcome song? What does their homeroom teacher say to quiet them? If there are books or papers, how do they pass them out or collect them? Channel summer excitement and keep students engaged at home with these summer-themed music coloring pages!
Click the link below to access the coloring pages. This is a fun review of music notes, rests, dynamic, and other music terms for your students. This package includes ten simple Summer themed music review color by music pages for elementary students to do at home, private lesson, or in the classroom. This review covers: Notes, Rests, Dynamic, staff, and clefs and includes an answer key! This product is great for little musicians to use at home during school closure or summer holidays. Easily use these coloring pages for distance learning by sending .pdfs and instructions for your students or their parents. Answer keys are provided for parents or a sub to check and assist kids when they are having trouble. Get your summer review pages here. *All pages may be colored with a 24 crayon set or 8 basic colors plus pink. ************************************************************* You might also like: Learn Music Through Coloring Birds: Notes, Rests, and Meter Music Conducting Quiz Time Signature Coloring Page 2/4 3/4 and 4/4 If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I am happy to help! My Website Follow me on Pinterest Send a message on Facebook __________________________________________________ #distancelearning #MusicatHome #Music #distancelearningTPT #privatelessons #sublessons Covid-19 has changed the music industry forever, but the music industry has not been crippled. If anything, musicians have shown the world their resilience. When concert venues shut down, live streaming gained popularity. When the doors shut to private lesson studios, teachers took their students online via Zoom and other platforms. But what will music education look like in the 2020-2021 school year? Is music education in jeopardy as school districts make decisions about the budget after the world’s largest recession?
by Angela Bond
I remember going to college for my BA and being forced to take the general requirements for music theory. I had taken all the theory classes at the community college level so I could transfer out of theory at the upper level, only to get partial credit on my entrance test and have to repeat one class. Admittedly, I was very good my second time around, but when I encountered theory at the masters level, I was again hit by that feeling of impending doom. After encountering student after student scoff at music theory, I wonder, Why is music theory so hard? Is Music Theory Irrelevant? I don’t think music theory has to be difficult. You can break it down to the smallest ideas and anyone can learn. I believe if two problems are addressed, music theory may return to its former glory. The first topic to address is relevance. Just face it, how many students have to know counterpoint in the real world? The riskiest yet most necessary thing for us to do as a society is regularly overhaul our systems. We should constantly be looking towards the future, to ways we can better ourselves and make overall improvements. |
Angela BondMusic Teacher/ Musician/ Owner of Plum Rose Publishing Categories |