Music In Our Schools Month

March has been designated as the "Music In Our Schools" month by the National Association for Music Education (MENC).  Coordinated activities include the World's Largest Concert, which will be held on March 11.  Find out more at the MENC website and make your plans to support and promote music education in our schools.

Find a Music Teacher

How do music teachers and music students find each other?

1. Word of Mouth - Good music teachers will often be recommended by their current and former students.

2. Advertising - Some music teachers advertise in classified ads. Small, community newspapers that are delivered to a specialized area are often a better place for this type of ad than large, metropolitan newspapers.

3. "Find a Music Teacher" - a free online service that helps students and teachers find each other. Students can search for teacher by instrument and locale. Teachers may register for free.

Find a music teacher (or be found by a student) today!

Music for Homeschoolers, part 2

Here is a quick outline of possible music education projects for homeschoolers.

Music Education Resources for Homeschoolers

I. Music Theory

A. Master Theory – a series of 6 workbooks, available at a relatively low cost, that take a student from the basic fundamentals through advanced harmony and arranging. Highly recommended for all college-bound music majors.
B. Music Flashcards – flashcards with rhythms, notes, musical terms, etc. for review. Many brands available.
C. Handouts – contact me
1. Musical Form
2. Composition
3. Advanced Rhythm Patterns

II. Music History

A. Online Sources
1. Music History 102
written by Robert Sherrane, Cataloging Librarian, Julliard School - good overview of the main periods with links to more specific information
2. Essentials of Music
outline of the musical periods with inclusive information on composers and a musical glossary
B. Books/Videos
1. Classical Kids video series – Beethoven Lives Upstairs, etc.
2. composer biographies – available at most libraries
C. Handouts – contact me
1. Composer Reports
2. Music History Outline

III. Music Appreciation

A. Attend Concerts – some orchestras have discounted student tickets and some are even free
For Denver metro area:
1. Colorado Symphony
2. Jefferson County Symphony
3. CU in Boulder (or any university) – student recitals are usually free
For outside of Denver/Boulder area: Search online for concerts in your area. Especially look for university music departments
B. Listen to quality music
1. Checkout classical recordings from the library – Sousa is a good band composer to listen to
2. Most media stores carry Classical CD’s and they are often priced much lower than pop music
C. Handouts – contact me for evaluation forms

IV. Music Professions and Avocations

A. Music Professions – http://www.mjsheetmusic.com/careers-in-music/ - an overview of possible careers in music
B. Music Avocations – contact me for handout
C. Research any category from either of the above on the internet.

Teach Your Students to Strive for Excellence in Performance

What makes a good music performance? Familiar music that the audience can relate to? Well-rehearsed technique and musical expression? An interesting variety of styles? A good performance is one that confirms the parents’ decisions to encourage their children to continue their music study, inspires the audience to consider becoming involved in music and, most importantly, is thoroughly enjoyed by students.

Excellence in performance begins with preparation. Sight-reading skills should be taught in choir and band rehearsals as well as private lessons in order to give students the ability to learn new music. Rhythm and listening skills should be emphasized in all ensemble groups to provide a means of staying together during a concert piece. Technique, intonation, and other skills specific to each instrument or group should also be considered valuable. The conscientious teacher will facilitate the development of musical skills throughout the year.

Another key aspect to preparation is rehearsing concert pieces in a systematic fashion. As the countdown toward the concert or recital ensues, plot a rehearsal schedule that allows ample time for every concert piece. Each rehearsal could focus on a different piece, breaking it down by sections and working out the difficult passages. Other pieces would be played or sung through briefly, so they are not forgotten. If songs are to be memorized, goals should be set for memorizing different songs by different rehearsal times. This can be coordinated with the rehearsal schedule as well.

Music should be planned with careful consideration of the abilities of the students. Nothing sabotages a concert more than an “ambitious” selection that is outside the range of skills of the performers. Choosing music that is too hard will lead to a poor performance which will discourage students and parents. It is usually better to shine with something too easy than to fall apart with an arrangement that is too difficult. The perfect scenario that we all seek is a program full of interesting pieces that provides a challenge the students can meet and excel in.

An excellent concert or recital will include an interesting variety of selections. The pieces will display a contrast of styles or adhere to a common theme. The audience will appreciate music they can relate to – if not familiar songs, then popular rhythms that they will enjoy. The careful director will begin selecting music early with all of these principles in mind.

Another task that should begin early is the scheduling of the time and location of the concert or recital. When the specifics have been established, this information needs to be communicated to students and parents immediately to reduce scheduling conflicts. Suggestions regarding appropriate concert attire should be made early as well to allow enough time for performers to acquire new clothing, if necessary.

As music teachers, we work toward helping our students develop their musical skills. Performance ability is one of these skills. This is not limited to encouraging our students to have confidence. Excellence in performance is rooted in careful instruction, practice, and preparation.

Music for Homeschoolers, part 1

How do you incorporate music into your homeschool curriculum? There are several options.

1) Private music lessons are the best source of music education. Weekly lessons will motivate most students to practice. Individual instruction from a qualified teacher gives immediate feedback that is necessary for musical advancement. Many teachers provide recitals and participate in music festivals to give their students more opportunities to perform.

2) Some communities have children's choirs and/or orchestras. You can contact these organizations to find their criteria for enrollment and determine whether they might be suitable for your children. There are bands, orchestras, and choirs for home school students as well. Contact your state and local home school organizations to find what is available in your locale.

3) Listening to music from different genres is a great way to develop an appreciation for music. Most libraries have classical recordings that can be checked out. Start with something familiar, such as Beethoven's 5th Symphony. Point out the main theme and teach your children to listen for when it returns. You can also attend concerts in your area. Many community orchestras and choirs offer free or low-cost concerts. Whenever possible, learn about the music that will be performed.

4) Encourage your children to read composer stories. An excellent resource for younger children is Music For Little Mozarts Discovery Book. This book was designed to be used with a piano method for young beginners, but the Discovery book, along with the CD which is sold separately, provides stories and musical examples of music from well-known classical composers, such as Beethoven and Mozart.

5) Sing. Use CD's, DVD's, etc. and sing along. Encourage your children to sing with you. There are many recordings and videos of children's music. Choose an age-appropriate selection that you and your children enjoy. Sing. Clap to the beat. Younger children may enjoy marching to the beat and playing rhythm instruments. This is, by far, the best way to enjoy music together as a family.