CHOIR VICE PRESIDENT- Leah Hoblit
Keeping Music Alive . . . Ideas to Supplement Curriculum A
s teachers and musicians, we are endlessly looking for new methodologies, techniques, and ideas to bring music to life in our classrooms and into the lives of our students. If
the end goal is to make music-making a life-long activity for every student, then we need to enrich what and how we teach with experiences that reach every student. Te following is a list of ideas from music teachers around the state that you may use to supplement your current curriculum. While this is not an exhaustive list, I hope that you find something that will both support what you are teaching and ignite enthusiasm for music-making in your classroom.
Tank you to Sarah Hanson, Meghan Goodner, and Anne Schatz for contributing their ideas.
1. Studio Session: Students select a piece that they would like to learn and record in small groups or as a solo. Students will walk away with an Mp3 format recording of their song. Repertoire is flexible and allows students to show off musicianship outside of band or choir. Use any recording soſtware(Garageband or Audacity) to create recordings. You could have advanced students make a video to go with their recording.
2. Fantasy Football/March Madness: Classroom competition based on music theory and literacy. Tis can be used within one class or across your classes. Decide how students can earn points and develop a bracket. Ideas include: • Identifying symbols as they come into the room (like the secret word).
• Exit tickets – perhaps defining a vocabulary term you used in class (e.g. forte).
• Note naming games – my students like “Around the World”, rhythm bingo, and “War.”
• Sight reading – put students up against each other to sight read a passage (you could do this in groups).
• Outside activities – 20 minutes of practice at home, singing for a parent/guardian, completing a note naming worksheet for homework, etc.
3. Music Technology: Teaching students music composition and editing via Garageband, Mixcraſt, or Audacity. Project could include:
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• Musical form with loops • Rhythmic dictation/reading • Editing a recording • Mashups • Silent story – take a silent film and write the sound effects
4. Allow students to bring music to you: Allow students to suggest repertoire or create a space for students to demonstrate their musical ability outside of the traditional ensemble. Arrange a cover of a pop song and challenge the class to write their own harmonies and instrumentation. Re- arrange a Christmas carol to include the student who plays the accordion or banjo. Ask students to plan the staging for their portion of the concert. Step aside as the teacher and facilitate student leadership, creativity, and expression.
Keeping music alive and thriving in your classroom requires a dedication to trial and error. Step outside of your comfort zone, try new ideas, accept failure as a learning process, and reflect on how to bring music to every student.
Leah Hoblit is currently the 6-12 choir teacher in Buffalo, Wyoming. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, and a Masters of Music Education from the University of Wyoming. Leah previously taught in Rock Springs and Green River, where she taught middle and high school choir, guitar, and music and video production. She also directed, co- directed, and accompanied several musicals. Outside of school, Leah teaches private voice and piano lessons and sings with Skyline Singers.
Wyoming Windsong
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