How many times have I been asked,  "How do I get my child to practice?"

Too many times!  

I believe it helps if the teacher and parent work together on this. 

Make a plan.  

What motivates the child?  Each child is unique.

  

I have put together some Parent Tips.  

Here is the first: Create A Space!

5 Books for Elementary General Music Class

I KNOW A SHY FELLOW WHO SWALLOWED A CELLO 
by Barbara S. Garriel, John O'Brien.

A great introduction to a few orchestral instruments.

coloring page (not sure who gets credit for this artwork):  https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/ce/b9/e5/ceb9e51dc3f9388f02b3f322f82ec6b6.jpg





THE RUNAWAY PANCAKE  by John Lithgow

This is a great sing-a-long book.  The class will love singing the main theme by the Runaway Pancake every time... including the volume needed at the end of the story.




HIP CAT by Jonathan London

It's all about Jazz.  Here is a Reading Rainbow link for the story read by Ann Duquesnay.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcdPvkL9duI



MAMA DON'T ALLOW by Thacher Hurd

There is a copy of the sheet music at the back of the book. It is a fun story.




ABIYOYO by Pete Seeger

This is a story about a giant named Abiyoyo and the creative battle of the father and son to win.

7-Minute Journal

Music in Middle School is always a challenge, and a joy!  Pre-teens are ready to experience music through writing and drawing; as well as develop a unique opinion and get cre~a~tive.

As soon as the class walks through the door, notebooks are out, ready to write down the title of the composition and the composer that will be played.

  

For 7 minutes, they are to listen -  draw, write or both whatever the composition reminds them of:  

a picture, 

a memory 

or a story.  

It's their choice to journal however they want to.  

Before report cards are due, I look through their notebooks to see if they are putting effort into this assignment.  (Grammar and artistic work are not graded, just thought and effort.)

I use a variety of pieces throughout the year.  All styles of music are used; pieces that relate to the history we are learning about, or just any music will due. 

Mix up the music styles from week to week.
If you have time, share information about the piece.
There will always be a few kids who want to share what they thought about the music with the whole class.

Too many ideas to list, but here are a  few:

The Four Seasons

Mendelssohn:  The Wedding March, March of the Fairies (A Midsummer Night's Dream)

John Williams movie themes: Jurassic Park, Star Wars, Jaws, etc..

Bela Bartok Romanian Folk Dances

Pink Panther

Scott Joplin Maple Leaf Rag

Jimi Hendrix Star Spangled Banner

YES -especially songs with lots of instrumental and time signatures

Puccini:  Madama Butterfly, La Boheme

70's Billy Joel, Pink Floyd

Broadway 

The Beatles

African drumming

Native American music- flute, drums

60's - Mamas and Papas, Turtles, Elvis, Moody Blues

50's Fats Domino, Chubby Checker, Chuck Berry

40's -Big Bands, Swing, Judy Garland

Roaring 20's

African American Songs of the South

Blues- BB King, Charlie Parker

Jazz - Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, 

War Songs- Over There, Pack All Your Troubles, Yellow Rose of Texas

American Songs - Battle Hymn, America, the Beautiful, God Bless America

Dance music 80's

Ballet - The Nutcracker, Swan Lake

Asian music

Egyptian music

Ancient music

Classical artists from all eras.

guitar - classical and rock

Piano Guys

Lord of the Rings

In teaching 7 - 8th graders guitar, it is important they have a folder with a guitar chord list and a bunch of folk songs and popular songs to enjoy. Making sure these songs go in order of the chords you are introducing.   Many songs can be played with just 3 chords.

I like to introduce the 'easiest to play' chords first.  Such as E and A.

I also introduce melody on the guitar.  It's not all about chords.  Chords can be difficult and uncomfortable and frustrating for some.  So, I like to balance it with learning the notes/steps on each string.  Alfred series has a good book.
For printing a chord chart, check out this site:  www.chordguide.com  It lets you select the chords you want to print.
Print out the chords you will need on one sheet... Add a small box next to each chord.  As you teach the chords and the students learn them, check off the box.  You could also make up an incentive sheet that would motivate the students to learn their chords.

You will be surprised at the singing that happens.  They are so focused on the playing, singing just enters in.

(c) 2003 ChordGuide.com All Rights Reserved

Assignment Sheet for the Young Child

I created this Assignment Sheet for the Young Child in mind.  It is not perfect, but it suits the need I have been looking for.

Please feel free to download this for your students.

Scavenger Hunt for the Classroom

Scavenger Hunt:  To do in the computer lab at school.


Here is one example I found:
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/hunt/images/sh_ws_soundmusic-download.pdf



So many ideas going through my head for this idea.   I am going to use the scavenger idea for my middle schooler's.  This is a great research idea.  Several different worksheets could be passed out in one class as a research project and it could be done in small groups.

Web searches for the students to use:

New York Philharmonic:  http://www.nyphilkids.org/games/main.phtml
SFSKids:   http://www.sfskids.org/
DSOKids: http://www.dsokids.com/
Classics for Kids:  http://www.classicsforkids.com/

Mystery Practice: leave a 'surprise message' in the student's notebook :0)

With many instrumental students off for the summer, and me... well, I am relaxing and enjoying the time off.  Yet, my mind is stirring with ideas for the Fall; and I came across these great ideas for practicing from Kids and Keys:

http://thefameschoolblog.com/2012/10/09/mystery-practice-assignments/

Therefore, I hope to print off several copies of practice ideas to glue-stick into notebooks this coming school year.  It should be fun and inspiring for the student and me!
I will post an update as I complete my thoughts on this.