Structuring elementary general music plans will be different than planning for ensemble rehearsal. Introduce rhythm patterns in duple and triple meters using neutral syllables. Lower Elementary: Students listen to you sing and chant music in various regular and irregular meters.Middle Elementary: Introduce rhythm syllables and notation in duple and triple meters using rhythm solfege.Upper Elementary: Transition from rhythm solfege to numeric counts or your district’s secondary rhythm syllable system.Start with your goal and peel the layers back incrementally through the grades Example Goal: Read rhythm notation with numeric counts Work backward by asking yourself what you would want middle school instrumental students to know. Reach out to other school districts to reference their general music curriculums. If one is not in place, consult the state and national standards. The Basics: What to Teach and How to Teach It You can also perform melodies from grade-level repertoire on instruments rather than always modeling with your singing voice. ![]() Draw on your knowledge of instrumental repertoire to teach the elements of music: melody, rhythm, timbre, dynamics, style, form, and tempo. Captivate students with your knowledge and expertise when introducing instruments and play for them. Teaching about instruments around the world is an important part of the general music curriculum. I found it very easy to learn to play simple chords, and regularly play the ukulele to accompany students while they are engaged in singing games or activities, so I am not “stuck” behind the piano and can move freely around the room. If you are not a guitarist, the ukulele has grown in popularity in general music classes and it is much easier to learn as an adult. “boom-chuck”) while you or the students sing the melody. and you don’t have to read the piano score. Young singers are most comfortable in D major, F major, etc. Your piano pedagogy will come in extremely helpful as well even if you don’t have terrific piano reading skills. Piano, Guitar, Ukulele and Other Instruments You can play the CD and sing along in the car on the way to school! It’s a terrific way to improve your inner hearing and gain comfort singing melodies, basslines, and solfege. I highly recommend the book Developing Musicianship through Improvisation by Christopher Azzara and Richard Grunow. If you are not used to singing, implement a warm-up routine at the beginning of the day to protect your voice just as you would a warm-up regimen to prepare for a practice session on your principal instrument. ![]() Your ability to sing in tune is key, and no vibrato is preferable as a voice model for elementary general music classes. Even if you don’t have formal vocal training or are not used to singing, your musicianship will provide a solid foundation for teaching general music. Rely on your strengths as an instrumental teacher and transfer your skills to your general music teaching. ![]() Moreover, students of all ages desire recognition and acceptance and require a safe learning environment to explore and grow. Also, your basic instructional strategies remain the same: varying repetition, sequencing activities to complement students’ energy levels throughout the lesson, and selecting quality repertoire. There are many similarities between teaching instrumental and general music classes, including related concepts such as posture, breathing, and tone production. You bring more to the table than you think you do! Connections Between Teaching Instrumental and General Music Classes It’ll be interesting.” I took the job and I learned that teaching elementary general music doesn’t have to be a scary new endeavor if you trust the skills you already have as a teacher and as a musician. Luckily, one of the music teachers I was working with at the time asked, “Why not? You’ll have all the lessons planned for you. ![]() The above scenario was my personal experience, and my first instinct was to say no. As that position comes to end, you are offered a long-term substitute teaching position in elementary general music, even though you haven’t set foot in a general music classroom since you were in elementary school. After graduation, you find yourself working as a long-term substitute teaching band or orchestra. Let’s set the stage: you have an instrumental performance degree and a teaching degree in band or orchestra.
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