Adventures of An Inspiring Music Educator

Month

September 2012

1 post

Reflection 9-25

These reflections are from my 2nd grade practicum. I am going to post these for my future reference and to just share. 

            Today’s lesson was a bit of a whirlwind for me personally. I thought it was super awesome that the kids remembered us from last week and that they were super excited to see us.

            I think that as a group we were a little scattered, maybe because the kids seemed to be a lot more energetic than they were last week (I think due to a comfort level). I stated this in the post lesson debriefing but I thought that we may have overshot the musical example with the Holst and that we were not aware of time management. From talking to friends who are or have student taught or are teaching, this is the hardest thing to do and I think the more and more that we are in the classroom the easier it will be to manage the entire class and have the three of us equally teach. And lastly (this is my last Debbie downer thought), I think that overall as a group we tried to do a little bit too much too soon, especially as only our second time in the classroom. I think that we have to use this lesson to fuel us forward because it is only our second time in this classroom setting.

            Now on to the positive parts of the lesson; I thought that the kids responded very well to movement and the parade that we did and following each other musically. I think that if we give the kids more control in their learning, (i.e having them create a rhythm to follow or being line leader and creating a rhythmic body pattern) that they will respond more to that. Plus, I think they seemed to enjoy the instruments and I think that we can do a great job in utilizing the boomwackers with movement and even song. I think we have our work cut out for us for the next few weeks.

            Overall, I am happy to be in the classroom with students who are extremely enthusiastic, as well as with fellow colleagues that I can work together with to become a better teacher! 

Sep 25, 2012

May 2012

6 posts

May 11, 20121,064 notes
“If I have learned anything in 35 or 40 years of teaching, it is that students don’t learn everything I teach them. What they learn is what I am excited about, the kinds of things I emphasize again and again and again and again.” —

-DA Carson

I have this pinned up in my classroom. What are you most excited about?

(via itssnix)

May 11, 201291 notes
Attachment Parenting  → healthland.time.com
May 10, 2012
#education #parenting #time magazine #attachment parenting
Mused AT | Music Education via AT: Music Education: Learning music online isn't always great. → musedat.tumblr.com

musedat:

As a music educator, one of my greatest fears is of a student watching a video of a musician online and thinking that he or she is so great based on comments and number of views when the performer really isn’t too awesome.

But what exactly is the standard of something GOOD and of quality about a performer? For me, I am a firm believer in the concept that musicians should know how to read music, or music literacy. For me, I have always seen it as a method of greater understanding the inlays of music which may not always be apparent to the ear. Online, there are many people who believe in the greatness of learning music by ear and are even resilient to the idea of learning notation. To me, that is the same thing as saying “I don’t want to learn how to read,” and the mere thought of that for children in English, for example, is absurd. 

There are also videos of people online still developing as musicians - and it is important for the music teachers to introduce such videos and then critique them. For students who browse the web, they need to realize that such musicians have much room to grow and a potential that is endless - a key belief I have for all of my students. It is then my duty to make sure this thought is conveyed in my own teaching. 

#music #education #online #media

May 6, 20126 notes
Ten Commandments for Better Teaching

1. Love your students as yourself.

2. Be professional. Know the stuff you teach.

3. Instill passion for the content - especially, make knowledge fun.
4. Make learning personal. Show students how to own their learning.
5. Take away the hiding places of unprepared and under-performing students. Let them embarass themselves.
6. Show students they have to earn self-esteem. You can’t give it to them. Praise success and do so publicly when it is earned.
7. Require students to do things that show they have mastered what you are trying to teach them.
8. Give students opportunities to “strut their stuff” in public, in and out of the class.
9. Help students learn how to work with others as a team.
10. Expect excellence. Do not teach to the lowest common denominator.

May 6, 201239 notes
#education #music #music education
What All Teachers Should Learn from Jazz Band Teachers! This article is a must read!  → psychologytoday.com
May 6, 2012
#education #music #music education #jazz #jazz education #awesome

April 2012

4 posts

Play
Apr 27, 20121,167 notes
Apr 27, 2012240 notes
Time is making fools of us again: Tyler and I were talking today about teaching → so-ill-followthesun.tumblr.com

so-ill-followthesun:

We came up with the fact that pre- registered classes are really stupid, we should be able to pick our own teachers, we are certainly paying enough for it. Like for example, Dr. Tyre is my kind of teacher, I learn a lot from him and I really wish that I had him last semester. Also, we should have separate theory and aural skills teachers. Dr. Mount is really good at theory and not so good at aural skills where as Dr. Suchy is the opposite. Last year I had Dr. Paynter who was a really good teacher for me because I had already taken theory in high school. If you hadn’t taken theory it would of been very hard to keep up. 

Also, that we should really be doing more aural in high school theory. It really helps and if you are going to audition for a music school there is a part where you have to sight sing. If you don’t take a voice class then there is no way that you could practice it unless you have musical parents or a sight singing book at home. I think it is very important as a musician to recognize intervals and to be able to sight sing. 

We were also talking about having a project- based music in our lives class so we can get non- music kids into it. Of course we would need some computers and things like garage band but I definitely think it would be worth it. Maybe teaching a guitar class would bring in some kids too. Just so the students are actually having fun and not just learning dates and facts about composers that they could care less about. Maybe incorporating a project for that time period. 

Just a couple of thoughts… 

I totally agree and that is what is going to be nice about next semester when we actually get to teach students and not make fake “lessons” and curriculum. 

I think that everyone should be doing aural stuff in every grade, not just elementary school and college, which seems to be the common trend. I took 3 years of theory in high school and we didn’t do anything close to what I have been doing in my 2 years here. It’s realizations like these and the ones Jackie talked about that help to make us great teachers; we know from experience what works and what doesn’t so we can be the best teachers. 

Apr 25, 20123 notes
#education #music #music education
Play
Apr 24, 201220 notes

March 2012

5 posts

Play
2:20
Mar 28, 2012471,539 notes
Mar 26, 2012149,047 notes
Hello, would you like to take part in The First Global Music TeachMeet Online Unlimited ? All the best, Maja

just let me know! I’m sure a lot of other people i know would like to join too!

Mar 15, 2012
CMRUBINWORLDAUTHOR: The Global Search for Education → cmrubinworld.tumblr.com

cmrubinworld:

image

“Dance education cannot just be about learning a system of physical moves. It has to include ways to practice thinking, improvising, risk taking, using your imagination” — Janet Eilber

Where is the Next Martha Graham?

By C. M. Rubin with Harry Rubin and Michael Freeborn

How important is…

Mar 13, 20126 notes
Education Survey

hi followers!

So this week I have had an idea about trying to develop a SUNY Potsdam-wide educational forum/symposium. My idea about the forum/symposium is to see  how we in Crane can reach out to the people in the General Education field and see if we as music teachers are helping to foster positive feelings about music in and out of the classroom and to ask a question, are the ways we as music education majors are teaching our students similar to what general education majors are learning, and how can we bridge the gap between us? 

I have met with Dr. Mark Campbell today and he suggested that I do some investigative work about this, so I have created a survey that I will conduct around campus. Attached is a rough draft of what I want the survey to look like. If you could take some time to look at this and help me out, it would be greatly appreciated! If you want to contact me either message me here or you can always email me at pilnicsh194@potsdam.edu

Sam 

Education Survey

1.     Gender:            

a.     Male

b.     Female

2.     Age____________________

3.     Major and Minor:_________________________

4.     Do you consider yourself musical?

a.     Yes

b.     No

5.     What type of music to do you listen to? ___________________________________________

6.     What types of music classes would you have liked to take in grade school?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7.     Did your music teacher play favorites to the best musicians?

a.     Yes

b.     No

8.     If you had the chance to go back to grade school, what musical experiences would you have liked to have had?

Mar 2, 2012
#Education #Survey #forum #help!
Treat them like students and they'll listen. Treat them like people and they'll find pride. Treat them like leaders, they'll lead. Treat them like musicians and they'll find the music inside.

the13thchair:

- The 13th Chair

Feb 29, 2012652 notes

February 2012

9 posts

Feb 29, 2012347 notes
No Student Left Untested  → nybooks.com

the more I read about it, the more angry I get about it. if you are a music education major, or any type of ed major, you need to read this and be aware of what is happening. it effects everyone!

Feb 24, 20124 notes
Feb 19, 201285 notes
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