- Be organized: physically and mentally. Have a clear vision and goals.
- Teach procedures well at the beginning of the school year and review periodically.
- Set high expectations and follow your classroom management plan.
- Give effective feedback by communicating clearly and efficiently.
- Rehearse in a positive context. Richard Floyd’s book, “The Artistry of Teaching and Making Music”, he suggests:
Instead of: “Don’t play so loud, I can’t hear the melody.”Try: “Play softer and be kind to your friends playing the melody.”
- Smile.
- Get-off the podium & move around the room. You’ll notice more about your students.
- Create an aisle to reach students in the last rows.
- Use a bluetooth receiver to stream audio or a metronome app wirelessly from your smartphone.
- Model often.
- Change-up the rehearsal routine:
- Change seats
- Watch a fun and/or educational video
- Give students a voice in the decision process
- Assign students into groups or sections for small playing competitions. Create & play a Kahoot game
- Pick great music that musically engages the students. Find composers and pieces that write well for every section.
