This conversation is about using percussion instruments, but it’s much more about the mindset to use when approaching these experiences.

Alicia spends a lot of time establishing the context in which these activities can take place, and creating the tone of the learning. One of the most valuable parts of the conversation to me was hearing Alicia talk about all the artistry and imagination that takes place before students even have the instruments in their hands. The instruments are the extension of the process - not the whole process in and of itself.

We also talked about classroom management with these instruments, and how conversations about classroom management are actually conversations about musical sequencing.

Alicia is someone who brings breathability to music education and I know you’ll enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

If you’d like to write Alicia a thank you note I know she’d appreciate it and she certainly deserves it. You can email her at [email protected], and read her bio at the bottom of these show notes.

Keep Learning - Alicia Recommends:

American Orff-Schulwerk Association Website

Find Your Chapter

Play Sing & Dance

Purposeful Pathways

Keep Listening:

Episode 5 - What Are Some Ways to Efficiently Pass Out Classroom Instruments?

Episode 28 - Teaching a Partwork Piece on Barred Instruments

Episode 34 - Strategies for Sharing Instruments

Episode 9 - How Should I Use Percussion Instruments as a Vocalist?

Barred Instrument Exploration Video - It Fell from the Sky

In This Conversation:

03:28 - It’s Alicia Knox!

5:04 - Teaching middle school

09:27 - Alicia’s pathway to Orff Schulwerk

17:38 - What are percussion instruments?

21:06 - What do I do with these instruments?

25:40 - Sequencing with flexibility

35:09 - Musical steps and classroom management steps to play the instruments

40:50 - First Steps for Unpitched Percussion - “The Napping House”

49:11 - “My kids could never do this” Backing up and moving forward appropriately

57:32 - First Steps for Barred Instruments

1:04:36 - Where to Learn More

1:08:51 - Quick Questions - What’s the last fun activity you did?

1:10:20 - Quick Questions - What’s the next teaching project you’re excited about?

1:11:38 - Quick Questions - What makes you so good at what you do?

1:12:48 - Where to find Alicia