#musedchat Archive
Each Monday evening at 8PM EST, music teachers get together and share ideas about important topics within music education. It’s a great chance to interact directly with educators from all over the world and to get new tips and tricks to help you succeed in the classroom. The entire #musedchat discussion is organized and moderated by Joe Guarr.
Monday September 12, 2016
Aubrey Yeh, 5th-8th orchestra teacher in Colorado
Hi All! Amy from MI. Middle school band. Super glad to be back at
Adam from NJ! 3-6 General Music, plus Band and Chorus.
Welcome to the chat, Aubrey! Hope you're doing well tonight.
Hi Aubrey! Glad to see you here!
Hi Amy, great to see you. Hope your school year is off to a great start.
Good evening to you Adam, hope you're doing well
Antoine Buttigieg here from Woodbridge Ontario Canada HS instrumental music teacher MB and drumline director GO RED SOX!
Great to see you Antoine, and welcome!
Been looking forward to a music chat for awhile now! :-)
Going well so far! How're things going for you?
Crazy but good. Some awesome new students this year.
Hi all Sam Fritz 6-8 band Greenwood In.
Hi Sam, how are you tonight?
great so far been looking forward to starting back up!
Q1: What new things are you working into your classroom this year? What is your motivation for trying them?
A1: I am adding in the Seesaw App. My schools PE teacher got the hookup with them & its a digital portfolio easily shared with Ps
A1: So many things. () & are two big ones. Wanting Ss to have more choice in their learning.
A1: More comfortable space, more S input on class happenings, interactive word wall, better rubrics for tests...
I know has done , she would be a great one to talk to
A1: empowering Ss to make autonomous musical decisions - my groups play well but this will take us further
Yes, we've been talking a lot - so appreciate her sharing her experiences!
three binders w/ plastic sleeves for MS band Ss - promote organization of music & materials.
I'm not going full GeniusHour, but Im devoting the last ~10" each week to composing in my 6th grade classes, as a trial
Sounds fun! What are you using for composition?
you have three binders? or each of your students?
Can you elaborate on the 'more comfortable space' idea? I'm intrigued.
I've seen this idea and am intrigued! How has it gone?
Sara, MS band from IL checking in late. Missed this chat!
Been talking for a few wks. Looking forward to borrowing ideas for when we do again next spring!
flat.io is great & for those that aren't notationally inclined soundation. free stuff that you can sign in thru Google
It's been good so far. 2 min visits, some detailed feedback from each.
Also focusing on music important to community through study of SSB, School fight song & alma mater.
I'm curious what you are asking for feedback on?
Welcome to the chat, Sara. Hope you've been well!
Right now, student engagement and my own movement around the room. Will probably switch it up in a few weeks.
A1: On another note, I also had an AP in to guest conduct today. Kids loved it and he did too! Want to do this w/my other admins.
No prior experience. Kids taught a bit, but mostly it was an exercise in them listening to each other. He kept the beat, though!
What sort of prep goes into this? How do the Ss exercise this power in a typical rehearsal?
Do they hang out in there more now? I can see it becoming a cool spot for them!
I was curious if this was bringing more people in. I may join the experiment. What kind of feedback have you had so far?
I really talk about why I made musical decisions (eg phrasing) then ask them to use principals and try https://t.co/liPDKdPRZz
What sort of prep goes into this? How do the Ss exercise this power in a typical rehearsal?
Just general obs. about what I was doing during that brief snapshot. "Moving around, talking w/ diff. sections"
a1 having masterclasses with well renowned conductors. Entering in a couple more festivals kids enjoy them
I hope they come back later for a follow-up, once we get into more established routines.
They hang out there before and after class. Was enjoying the "wow!" reactions as they came in last week.
Sarah, from MA, k-5 music/band/chorus. Catching up now, sorry I'm late!
Great to see you, Sarah. Welcome!
A1: I am also starting a push-in enrichment with 4-6, trying to follow a PBL format, if any of you have any experience with that
A1: lots of student choice - engagement, fun, and ownership! Also they come up with much more creative ideas than me
Definitely. The first couple weeks are a very different experience than a month into things, especially w/ instruments.
Very cool. I'm sure your students appreciate the transparency and accessibility of your musical decisions.
I always love getting more people in my room, so I love this idea!
in person. Theres something about having the person in the flesh that the kids connect to imo.
A1-1 I'm also doing fifth grade chorus for the first time this year - every kid in the grade. Starting tomorrow
each grade gets a trimester, 4th is up first. We are going to make an album, actually emailing my P bout it now
That's how I feel most of the time.
Recording an album? Or how are you making it?
Any music teachers out there? Tell them about going off now https://t.co/yWD3WSEVu5
A1: I am also starting a push-in enrichment with 4-6, trying to follow a PBL format, if any of you have any experience with that
yeah, using Chromebooks and sites like soundation. And hopefully a field trip to a real studio too.
Sounds like a great project! You'll have to let us know how it turns out!
A1: Big thing no.2 is taking the plunge and doing ALL playing tests through Google Classroom. Minimize classroom disruption.
It's awesome. The only downside is setting aside the outside school time for grading. Love GC though!
anytime sir. Lots of freed up time for this in my schedule
LOVE GC! I made a slow transition by encouraging GC but still accepting papers last year - this year going all online
How long is your typical playing test? How quickly can you get through, say, 25 tests?
Awesome! have a plan for those kids who always have "technology issues" at home
When my kids turn stuff in, it usually takes me about 2 hours to grade 60-80 kids
A1: 1) Standaeds-referenced grade book. All grades will be in relation to a particular standard, not assessment
I'm also guilty of playing at 2x speed on YouTube to help.
Usually scales or lines from method book. How long depends on how much feedback. 25 is around 30-45 minutes.
Hey everyone! Jumping in late tonight. Kiddo 1 just went to bed. Excited I finally remember this chat before it was over :)
We've got some brand new laptops at school and some practice rooms.
A1: 2) Doing assessments through Google Classroom/new SmartMusic, as all 6-12 students are 1-1 Chromebook
Welcome! Hope you've been well
A1: 3) GRR with small ensembles within the larger ensemble. PBL for developing chamber music
I have a great rubric (I think anyway) I'm happy to share - year 3 with GC and
How much prep time does your school have? I see prep time being an issue for this at my school. Love the idea though.
Usually scales or lines from music/method book. 52 min period 45-50 kids per class.
Are other Ts in your building doing it?
Share away! Always looking for more rubric ideas.
GC test also gives added bonus of easy addition to a Site for digital portfolio.
Conference/prep hour is 57 min/day. But I can usually only devote 15-20 min. to grading during that time.
Burton Hable, Assistant Director at Centennial HS in Ankeny, IA. Jumping in sporadically around dinner!
My school started an extra enrichment period during RTI time this yr. Science, music, PE (might be more)
A1: switching music books this year, moved to a slower paced book and looking to build stronger foundation w/ my beginners
Great to have you in the chat, Burton
neat! I will be in touch this year, I'm bound to have many questions.
What book did you switch to?
and which did you switch from?
What are you using? We switched to Sound Innovations this year, really liking it so far.
What grades? This is one of my main goals for this year.
A1: I plan to use Seesaw and Plickers this yr. Want to show parents/school more of what we are doing in class.
Here's one so far. Got a few bean bags this week too that the after school program is sharing. https://t.co/0MU2jrnfVX
Heard good things about Plickers from our social studies dept. How are you using them?
I get to have a 1-sem RTI band for 7th grade live it! https://t.co/0hwlJq14kX
My school started an extra enrichment period during RTI time this yr. Science, music, PE (might be more)
I printed a set of cards today! Excited to start using them.
Our wifi was too sketchy last year and I missed them. Glad to have some connectivity again.
. band fundamentals. I only see my Ss 2x a week. needed something w/more repetition, that doesn't seem like repetition.
I put my projects into Symbaloo Lesson Plans this year. I have 8 so far. Will repeat each Q.
Gradual Release of Responsibility: I do (Teacher). We do together (T and Ss). You do together (Ss). You do (S).
I haven't started yet :) We have Quaver, so I'm thinking maybe for the quizzes or tests.
Awesome! What's on the front board? #
What does that class entail?
Ah, gotcha. Students will love that. They seem to enjoy chamber music and the autonomy that comes with it.
Awesome! We are not 1:1. I will have 1, maybe 2 devices. Hoping to do more performance based stuff.
Giant calendar to keep track of events and (eventual) class jobs. Bins are to draw names said jobs.
I see this group 30 minutes everyday. I have each project written to take 5-7 days but it's adjustable.
I choose all the students based on 6th grade perf data work it like one rotating private lesson group https://t.co/HV9xAfDY6J
What does that class entail?
I learned about lesson plans on symbaloo last yr. Love them! Great for days with multiple videos.
Awesome! I'm trying class jobs again. Hard to keep track of it all. Trying 2 charts this year, so we will see.
We do a student-led ensemble project at end of yr. Want to scaffold up to that and encourage listening in large ensemble
Cool! Not sure if our kids pick. Tier 1 gets to go to an enrichment.
Yea, or I'm thinking recording individuals. I want parents to see more than just our 1 concert.
I actually don't assign them individually. We work on it as a class. I use the game board for the visual.
I'm thinking to start with 2-3. We do more orff melody and recorder stuff which is easy to record
If you are 1:1 it would be awesome for PBL projects.
To be perfectly honest, we looked a lot at both of your work as we talked about this year :)
I've got a TON of reading to do after tonight's chat. Holy cow you guys have shared a lot of resources.
Are other Ts open to the observe me concept?
For sure! There's a math T in my bldg w/ over 30 yrs experience. Always dropping in on other Ts to learn new stuff.
Sounds like a great opportunity to get extra work in.
I can see why! considering it.
our district hires subs specifically to allow Ts to observe one another. Cycles through about 1-2 per quarter.
Such a beautiful venue for a chamber concert, too.
Walk throughs are so valuable! Would love to do these again.
