iListenWI
Forming Support Systems Sharon Gilbert and Julie Ropers-Rosendahl, WMEA State Co-Chairs
Input From Committee Members: Carolyn Atwell, Kathy Hoch and Jackie Vandenberg S
So often the elementary general music teacher is the only music professional in the building. Secondary general music teachers have choral directors and instru- mental directors to collaborate with but are often at multiple schools. Time for collaboration is at a premium. Finding and utilizing support systems is necessary for every music teacher. Here are some ideas to forming these systems:
• The iListenWI committee creates a year’s music listening lesson curricu- lum for the general music teacher to use. This year’s theme is “Toys and Games.” The lesson plans explore the history of the orchestra, a study of musical styles, timbres, plus large and small forms using student ap- propriate literature from well-known composers. Each unit is complete with outcomes, strategies, Wisconsin and National Core Music Standards, composer biographies, related chil- dren’s books to share and assess- ments you can use.
• The iListenWI composition list changes every year. If started with first graders, by the time they have completed sixth grade, you will have taught them 66 different composi- tions, plus all the correlating informa- tion. This is a wonderful gift to give your students.
• These materials are not a stand-alone curriculum. They are intended to en- hance an already existing curriculum.
• This year we are inviting you as a music teacher to write a unit for next year’s binder. Please visit
wmeamusic.org/ilistenwi for a tem- plate to use in creating the materials. Any unit submitted that we choose to publish will result in a free binder for the teacher.
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• Jackie Vandenberg and Sharon Gil- bert are available to come to your district and do an in-service for you to help implement the materials.
• Collaboration with other educators can be done through social media with other music teachers across the world (or just within your district). WMEA has a Facebook page, as do the general music teachers of Wis- consin. Don’t forget your district’s newsletter. That is a great way to reach parents with concert dates, units being studied, needs in the department, etc.
• Carolyn Atwell teaches in Wau- watosa. Her district’s students are dismissed early every Wednesday. The teachers meet by departments to share and collaborate during the af- ternoon. That weekly meeting allows the music teachers to meet, share ideas, build relationships and encour- age each other.
• Talk with the personnel in your build- ing. Find out who sings in church or community choirs, who plays an instrument, etc. You might even find an accomplished pianist who would be willing to accompany concerts or solo/ensemble students. At one school I taught in, the janitor loved jazz. He had a HUGE collection of jazz memorabilia. He was very will- ing to share his resources and even made suggestions about compositions I had not thought to use. Some lower elementary teachers use nursery rhymes in their reading program. You can walk into a room and find nursery rhyme pictures all over the walls. Of course those rhymes are also songs. Sing them in music class. Show the books of them from the library. Col- laboration like this can enhance your program at the school.
Visit the online version of WSM to easily access links within this article.
• Your school administrator: Is she/ he a musician? They may have ideas for showcasing your groups as well as ideas for funding. The support of the administrator can be amazing and even crucial to your success.
• The school librarian is a gold mine for music teachers. With every new unit you begin, check with the librar- ian for age appropriate books that would enhance your lessons. Are you introducing a composer? Find library books about that person. Often times if your library doesn’t have what you need, they can get things through in- terlibrary loan. Many times librarians have purchased books specifically for the music teacher to use.
• Do you want more African drums, Orff instruments, guitars, or do you dream of tap shoes for an entire class? Contact your school’s parent organization, local music stores and dance studios, even private teachers. There may be a dance teacher who does some choreography for your concert in exchange for a short dance preview of their upcoming produc- tion, or space in your program flyer. One year I wanted to feature “The Nutcracker Ballet” in our Christmas program. I found a music book with words set to the main songs. I found a dancer who helped choreograph the songs so that I could have one class singing while another was dancing. It ended up being one of the highlight concerts of my career.
April 2018
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