Teaching Concert Etiquette

I like the idea of having a lesson in which the whole class compares and contrasts appropriate behavior at a sporting event and at a classical music concert.  You could also three-way compare and contrast a sporting event, rock concert and classical music concert.  For the parents, you can insert a half page of concert etiquette guidelines.  The guidelines from this website could be used:

Classical Music Concert Etiquette

Memorizing Words to Songs

Some pieces for choir have so many words that it is difficult for students to memorize the various verses.  I liked the following discussion, especially the following ideas:

Write all the words on the board (or show typed on a projector).  After singing through it once, erase or delete some of the words.  Do this several times and delete more words each time.

Have each student handwrite all the words.  Have a due date to have the words memorized.  Make it into a quiz and have each student individually write all the words from memory and turn it in.

Memorizing Words

Keeping students from talking in rehearsals

I liked reading these ideas for minimizing talking during rehearsals.  I especially like these:

Have a "sh sh sh" sound that the students join in with the teacher whenever the teacher does it.
If someone is talking, have everyone breathe in for 5 seconds, hold it for 5 seconds and breathe out for 5 seconds.
If someone is talking, teacher has the whole class stand up or sit up on edge of chair.  When talking stops, the teacher says "sit down" or "sit back."
Have them get used to silence.  When they are quiet and ready to sing, wait for a few beats of silence before conducting them to sing.
Teacher sings "oo" on a reasonable pitch and every student joins in unison.  After everyone is joined in, teacher cuts off and continues with rehearsal.

Minimize Talking

Helping kids match pitch

I like these ideas for helping kids match pitch: Especially that you should have the student sing a pitch and then you match their pitch (rather than the other way around).  I like the apple-picking game in which the teacher sings a tone and a student picks an imaginary apple and simultaneously sings the teacher's pitch.  Then the student picks a different apple and starts singing a different pitch.  Then the teacher picks an apple and matches the student's pitch.  In this manner they trade back and forth.  I also have heard of playing a pitch on a piano and having a student sing it.  If the pitch is incorrect, the teacher sings the pitch the student is singing and then slides up or down to the pitch that the teacher is asking them to sing on the piano.  Then the student can slide to the correct pitch as well.

Help Kids Match Pitch

Teaching Part Singing

For beginning part singing, I like this idea of the part I students humming their part (the melody) while the part II (harmony) sings their part out loud.  It is also helpful to physically move the two parts further away from each other.

Part Singing Tips

10 ways to improvise your way to becoming a better teacher

I like that this article used improv acting ideas to help teaching, since I do some drama with my music students.  These were my favorite:

1. Help each other out: In improv, you set the other person up for success.  We should always be helping others!
2. Come into every situation with a basic outline: In improv, you need to know where you are trying to get to in your skit, even if you haven't figured out all the details.  We always need to have goals and a direction to focus on in each class period.
3. You won't get anything you don't ask for: If you want to change something about your music program, ask your administration, parents, other teachers, etc.  The worst that can happen is they say no!
4. Pay attention to your surroundings: In improv, you can make up a song or a skit about someone in the audience messing with their cell phone or doing something quirky.  Pay attention to the people in your classroom and be light-hearted and playful about it.  As long as you don't make fun, it will engage them!

10 ways to improvise your way to becoming a better teacher

20 classroom management strategies

It is important for us to remind ourselves of simple management strategies periodically.  I especially like these:
Be silent more (wait time is important for student comprehension and focus)
Don't ever argue with a child (you are the adult!)
Check for understanding a lot!
Move around the room
Say "We don't do that in here," about critical comments.
Don't spend too much time on a concept in one day (maybe have them play a section three times and then move on); you don't want to kill your pacing.
Encourage them! 

20 management strategies