10 Min Tips to Teach Music

Well, I had a brain wave in class this week and I am so excited to share. I was teaching my Year 9 class about key signatures and found this incredibly cool way for the students to remember. It has a lot to do with the number 5 and the way you draw the letters. There is even a video showing you how to teach it. 

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/bqN2hu7SrRM

In this episode, I discuss the enneagram and your strengths. I talk about how these two tests can help you to understand yourself, and therefore make you more productive, engaging with your students and a valuable part of the team. I tell stories about specific cases and how this information has empowered others. 

If you want to take the Strengths test: https://high5test.com?ref=10

If you want to take the Enneagram: https://www.truity.com/?an=kerri_827920

[Full Disclosure: These links are affiliate link and I will only receive compensation if you purchase through this link.]

During this podcast, I chat about the app Incredibox. I offer a breakdown of each version with a list of different strategies to work it into your classroom. For support materials, go to www.klerrisaucustommusic.com.au

Carousel Teaching - what on earth is it?  In its simplest form, it is a cooperative learning strategy that involves movement, discussion and reflection. It is a bit like Gallery Walk (as named by Shelley Gray) where students work on their own to complete a series of tasks around the room or school environment. In a Carousel, they work in small groups and move from station to station. This podcast looks at strategies to use in a single classroom following this model. For support materials, go to www.klerrisacustommusic.com.au 

Well today I want to talk about QR codes and how they can be useful in a number of areas. For supporting documentation, go to www.klerrisacustommusic.com.au 

In the year I was born, 1967, Kraplus and Thier developed something they called the Learning Cycle. It was for the Science Curriculum Improvement Study. It was an inquiry based teaching approach that had 3 phases: Exploration, concept introduction and concept application. The idea was to explore the current situation, introduce the central concept and then apply the skill set. A lot like music classes - we teach a concept and then apply it to the skill set.

Since 1967, many different variations of this idea have been developed, all with the same idea - explore before introduction and application. A popular version of the Learning Cycle is the 5-E model--Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate (Bybee, 1997). This model adds Engage and Evaluate to bookend the process. Again a lot like music classes. Listen to the podcast to find out more. 

For podcast support, go to: http://www.klerrisacustommusic.com.au

All teachers struggle with the dreaded “paper processes”. We have so many processes in our day to day life that trying to streamline can be quite scary. What if you miss something in the change over? That could prove to be catastrophic. So where does one start to become “paperless”. Well first of all, I truly don’t think you will ever be paperless but you can definitely reduce your reliance on some things to make life a little more streamlined. I am, and will always be, that teacher who has lists, but I don’t have to have heaps of post it notes around the place. So where did I start?  Find out more in this episode. 

For the podcast support information, go to http://www.klerrisacustommusic.com.au

Let’s face it, extra curricular ensembles are part and parcel of the Music Department in most schools. More often than not, teachers take on these ensembles out of the goodness of their hearts, with very little support. Some of us are fortunate and may receive a couple of periods a week to help with planning and preparation but most of us don’t get that much help. This week I would like to talk about the challenges of creating an ensemble, be it vocal or instrumental, and some of the strategies to ensure you are providing a development plan which also incorporates growth. 

For the Podcast support, go to: http://www.klerrisacustommusic.com.au

The high school music classroom can be quite challenging. Each type of school structure comes with their challenges. There are some structures where music is only taught for 3 or 6 months in the year. There are other structures where music is taught all year but only once a week. Both have their success and their challenges. This week I would like to talk about the challenges of the mandatory structure and how to engage the stage 4 (years 7 and 8) to continue through to stage 5 (elective years 9 and 10) and then onto stage 6 (years 11 and 12). 

For podcast notes, go to: www.klerrisacustommusic.com.au

This video explains a couple of different ways that you could start your music classes. It covers the countdown screen, time trials, The PB and what do you remember. To find the support materials, go to: www.klerrisacustommusic.com.au