Secondary Vice President’s Message continued from page 16
Tere is a resource that may not be new to you, but it is new to me and I really enjoy using it with my middle school non-musicians. Te book is called “Top 40 Classical Fun Facts.” It’s filled with articles in regards to genres, musical periods, composers, dramatizations, puzzles, ear training, and actual music reading! My students have enjoyed the dramatizations for the composers in the Baroque and Classical periods as they got to wear wigs while they acted out the parts of Bach, Handel, Beethoven, and others. You can supplement
this book with
other resources as well such as videos and instruments.
Another great resource to learn the “good stuff” about composers is the book “Bach, Beethoven, and the Boys” by David W. Barber. Had I known about this book aſter I had taken my music history class in college, I might have actually stayed awake during that class! Tis is a great read if you are looking for something that is cheeky and fun about the composers of the past.
• Music Technology Garage Band is an excellent way to engage all the students in your class if you have access to iPads or computers. Tere is something for everyone here. Garage Band is an endless treasure trove of traditional musical instruments and modern beats. Tere are so many resources out there to help you with Garage Band if you’ve not explored it before.
Along with that you can explore other electronic music devices that mix, manipulate, and produce music. When an administrator asks how you are implementing technology into your classroom, Garage Band can be your saving grace.
• Careers in Music Tis unit is one of my personal favorites because it involves inviting
winter 2019 |
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people into your classroom to discuss their job in all facets of music. Most students are unaware of other careers outside of music education and performing music. It’s enlightening and allows students to think outside the box. If you’re able, book some class time with a professional musician (instrumentalist and/or vocalist), a DJ, tour manager, composer, back-up singer, music therapist, local music store owner, a conductor, etc. Have them talk about music
from the
perspective of their careers with your students.
• Make Your Own Instruments Tis can be a lot of fun, as you never know what your students are going to come up with. With your guidance, your students can amaze you. One year, I had a middle school student make an ocarina out of notebook paper and it worked beautifully! If you don’t know what an ocarina is, Google it.
• Whatever It Takes Do whatever it takes to get your music appreciation students
to see
live performances. Take a field trip to see the symphony. When the United States Marine Band is close by, go see them. Have a group come in to perform for your class, invite an elementary school group, middle school group, high school group, or college group to come play or sing for your students. Watch something together or individually.
Most music educators are required to add some type of reading and writing assignment in each of their classes. An easy way to get them to write in your class is to have them write about a performance they’ve seen. My music appreciation students are required to attend at least one live performance during the semester. Tey are to report as if they were a journalist for a local newspaper. Tey have set criteria they are to address in their report. I show
them an example of what that looks like and provide them with a rubric to follow to help them be successful. For students who are unable to see a live performance, with guidance, there are some previously recorded concerts on PBS or YouTube. Tey will need some guidelines for this as well, but usually if it’s live music, and it’s school appropriate, it should be enough on which to report.
Without having a set curriculum, teaching music appreciation can be an overwhelming process as it’s such a broad subject area. With a little bit of research, maybe a trusty colleague to ask advice, and an open mind, your music appreciation class can experience music come to life and hopefully have a little fun in the process. Who knows? Maybe you’ll have an aspiring musician in your class of whom you weren’t aware.
I am very much looking forward to seeing everyone in Gillette for our 2020 Wyoming All-State Music Conference. We have some really wonderful clinicians lined up in all sessions. I hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to learn from others in our field.
Cara Sommers, in her eleventh year of music education, currently teaches 6 – 8 band and jazz band at Centennial Junior High in Casper, Wyoming. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she played in the UNLV Symphony Orchestra, and the Star of Nevada Marching Band. She taught 6 – 8 band at Rocky Mountain Middle School in Idaho Falls, Idaho from 2009 – 2015. She performed in the Idaho Falls Symphony Orchestra, Te Idaho Falls Community Band, and the Jazz House Big Band, where she also contributed to an album as a back up singer with country artist, Brian Morris, and performed radio jingles for local radio stations. She has also taught 6 – 12 band and 9 – 12 choir at Rocky Mountain Middle & High School in Cowley, Wyoming from 2015 – 2019. She was a staff member for the Wyoming Ambassadors of Music European Tour in 2019.
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