Music Motivation, Help please! Options

[Piano_Princess]

I'm going to a primary school for work experience next week, and - I know private/peripetetic teaching is different to that in a school - but I was wondering if anyone had any tips for movitating/helping children with music. The school know I want to be a music teacher, and therefore may get me to help out in the music classes, so I want to be prepared and able to help/support/movitate the kids!

Any advice would be really appreciated! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Thank you in advance!

Laura

[jod]

Assume everyone is going to join in and expect it. Go in brimming with self confidence and perform yourself. Keep a very open body stance and sound really enthusiatic.

Bubble with enthusiasm an self-belief and those children will join in. Depending on the age you need to be very dynamic in a primary school class its high energy teaching given in an encouraging manner. I've doen a fair amount of story reading to KS1 and some music and movement with foundation stage if your not prepared to get really stuck in they don't respond if you do nearly all will. Remember that at this stage a lot of children learn kinesthtically so action and movement is good.

[gtmus2002uk]

Because you're clearly interested in music, children always love that - and your love of music should always shine through. Try to get everyone to join in ... that shy little boy at the back just needs a bit of encouragement. When I'm doing music in schools, I try to think of it a little like a sports team ... everyone needs to put in maximum effort in order to achieve the maximum effect. I know you'll really enjoy it though, some of the days I go into primary schools are the best!

Gareth.

[JulieCSM]

Don't be afraid to demonstrate what you want them to do. It may sound obvious, but I have met music teachers who won't sing - they are too shy/scared/embarrassed/whatever.

How anyone can expect kids to do something they won't do themselves I don't know.

[tasha.t]

I have been working in a primary school teaching music for some time now and whilst I do agree with the posts, be really enthusiastic and DO DEMONSTRATE, there may well be a couple of children who are a little shy or a few who see music as a chance to let of a little too much steam . Keep the lesson quickly paced, get out as many instruments as you can and let as many children as you can have a go but teaching respect for the instruments (if they play them when told not to then removing them for a while will soon focus the mind of the child who doesn't listen). Which music scheme are you going to use?

For the shy children, I have found taking a puppet in works wonders as it can demonstrate with you and you can ask these children to have a go with him - he will help them - my dragon is now a very popular member of staff.

Teaching music to whole classes can be exhausting but is great fun - best of luck,

Tasha

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[Good Intentions]

Hi

I think anything to get the kids joining in together works wonders. Get them to La along with the notes whilst you teach them, Cryilla is the best person to explain what I mean - kids and adults respond well to this and the sooner you get them vocal, the sooner they will lose their inhibitions about playing and or singing.
Also get them to clap rythms eith their hands and on the floor, and combine them e.g clap hands, clap hands, slap floor, clap hands. Then try asking them to do one bar quietly then a loud one etc.

One esstential trick is to invent a STOP sign with them, kids inevititbly can get worked up and over exicited in groups, and bringing their focus back to you quietly and quickly can be difficult, so in the first lesson establish a noise or something you will do, and explain that when you do this they must be silent and still as quick as possible - make it a game.

For things you need them to remeber make up songs that will help them - you dont have to be a great composer just a silly ryhme to a simple tune they know like twinkle twinkle little star.

and remember to laugh and enjoy it, if you are enjoying it the children will too, and in learning their really is no substitue for enthusiasm (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Edit:

oh have just remember something my primary school used to do to warm us up every lesson

She would sing a line say in C (cant exactly remember)

Teacher in C: Good Morning Class .........(insert year three/ two etc)
Class in C: Good Moring Mrs.............(Your name)
Teacher up a note D: Good morning class...............
Class in D: Godd moring Mrs.............................
Techer in E: Good Morning class .............
Class in E Good moring mrs............................

Teacher still in E: How do you do? (for the word DO drop down a note)
Class still in E: Fine thankyou (for the you in thank you drop down a note)

this was a nice way to start the lesson unfortunatley I completely made up the notes there - it may be right but I am not any where i could sing or play it to check, you get the general gist though teacher sings children copy ascending then droping back down for the last sylable of the song.

[Cyrilla]

Cryilla

I knew I was feeling a bit down this morning...

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[Piano_Princess]

Okay, thanks everyone for your replies, Im sure they'll be really helpful! I helped out in class today where we sang songs, and lots of actions and familiar tunes were used - just like you suggested. I can't wait until I assist in a proper music lesson, and I'll try out all of your tips! There are a quite a few special needs children in the class who I think would really benefit from the music!

Thanks again,

Laura

[jod]

Read Joyce Grenfell over what not to do!

Seriously with little-uns become the all-singing-all-dancing musican with a stop sign and you'll be fine. As the parent of two very lively boys I can state there is a fine line between encouragement and overexcitement but one gets used to that... preferably before anyone gets hurt. Physically you'll feel exhausted but that's just young children for you.

Cyrilla has the full Kodaly background and even if you're not a Kodaly specialist, the thing I have learnt from my colleagues who are is how to gently encourage, be dynamic yet firm. The other thing the Koldaly specialists are 100% certain on is their aims and objectives, something that those of us who do not subscribe completely to their point of view can learn.

I amy not be a complete convert, but I can see good practice when I see it.

[Good Intentions]

Cryilla

I knew I was feeling a bit down this morning...

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(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Sorry Cyrilla my hand was quicker than my brain on that one.

[Cyrilla]

*just teasing*

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