#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 April 11, 2016
8:00 PM EDT
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It's time! Our topic: maintaining motivation through the end of the school year. Be sure to introduce yourself.
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Hi All! Amy from MI. Middle school band.
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Hi Amy! How was your first day back from break?
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Brad, MS Gen music/chorus from Northampton PA
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Hi Brad, good evening to you. Hope your week is off to a good start.
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mostly. state testing started this week, however
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Ugh. Stay strong! Next week for us.
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Jumped right back into things. Can't believe the 4th quarter started today already! Were you off last week too?
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We were off 2 weeks ago. Wife had her break last week though.
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Q1 coming soon. More people will trickle in.
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We start this week too. Ugh. Not my favorite at all.
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Q1: Since testing is on our minds...how do you keep classes productive during a stressful time for students?
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A1. by trying to keep things as routine as possible. Also, lots of warm-ups in chorus! :)
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Antoine Buttigieg here from Woodbridge Ontario Canada HS instrumental music teacher MB and drumline director
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Whoops, accidentally deleted it. Q1: With testing season upon us, how do you keep classes focused during a stressful time?
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Hi Antoine, good evening to you, hope you're doing well.
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A1 what's testing season?
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What are some of your favorite warmups?
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Sara from IL checking in late.
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A1: A lot of times, they're just happy to play and be physically doing something aside from taking a test.
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A1: Plan engaging lessons that provide a release while also moving students forward.
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Standardized tests happening this time of year.
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Hi Sara, great to see you!
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A1: Honestly, just providing a space where Ss don't have to think about bubbles and scantrons is a big thing
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ms chorus warm-ups? anything random & asynchronous. They love "10 second hum conversation with their neighbor."
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are these music standard tests?
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Whoever the state contracts to provide their tests. It's a business. Math/Science/English tests
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A1 as routine as normal. I try to avoid really dirty detail work and do more large sections though
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Hi Brad, welcome to the chat. Hope your Monday was a good one.
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woke up, got to make music with great kids. Can't complain. Yours as well!
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A1: When I taught elementary, I'd make sure to do something involving movement and group work to let out some energy.
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gotchya we just had the OSSLT, literacy, for Gr 10s the 9s have EQAO a math version that's all up here
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Q2: Do you find your energy/motivation start to dip at all toward the end of the year? How do you stay energized?
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A2 not really. We schedule our concert really close to the end of the year so there is no down time. Graduation helps too
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Movement can wake up students who are dragging a little bit, too. Breathing Gym FTW!
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a2: I don't find a dip at the end of the year as much as Feb into March--Winter blahs. Myself and Ss.
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A2: I try to avoid countdowns and the like this time of year. Use the time to begin previewing next level concepts.
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A2 usually between concert season, spring trip, moving up ceremony, too busy to be bored. So I guess performance venues
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A2: It's really a sprint from here to the end of May. Nothing slows down until then. Not much time to drag yet.
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A2: The sheer amount of stuff we cram into the last two months of school can be a little overwhelming.
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Kristen Brunacini - elementary music teacher
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We have four performances in the next 7 weeks, plus an overnight trip to Chicago. Rest up on wkds to be fresh during the week
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Welcome to the chat, Kristen!
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A2: Energy level is up, but I'll admit that what does often dip is patience level, especially on busier weeks.
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A2: we also need to celebrate the Ss's success and performance! They work harder at this time of year than most other subjects.
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A1: I try to respond to the mood of Ss with diff. activities prepared. Sometimes they need to move, sometimes they need to relax.
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More for me, but kids too.
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A2: So much going on! That's enough to push through!
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Q3: How many of you deal with seasonal allergies in the spring? How do you fight through those and stay fresh?
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A3: somewhat goofy answer, but "clariten" my allergies kill me, but I can't miss this close to concert time
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A3: I treat my allergies with everything possible. Also helps to become familiar with the mowing schedule outside my room.
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A3: Diffusing essential oils, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep...
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A3: Clariten, sprays, inhalers, eye drops... And extra tissue around when those don't work. :) https://t.co/9fjAVgUcle
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Claritin doesn't do much for me. And whenever I steal my wife's Zyrtec, it knocks me out. Allegra here.
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A2: Make things fun/different with group performance activities! Switch up leadership roles, improvise over the piece, ect.
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What oils do you use during allergy season? Just starting to try them out.
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I'm not an expert but I like peppermint, lavender, and lemon. I think it helps!
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The one positive of last week's snowstorms is that it kept my allergies in check for the time being.
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Ha! Except for those days with high pollen alerts combined with snow. :)
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What a weird week, even by Michigan standards.
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Q4: Those of you that have a gap between final performance and the last day of school, how do you make those days meaningful?
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A4: we analyze the concert for what we did well!
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A1: I try to start something I know they'll love during testing to give something to look forward to! 3rd = recorders, 4th = Uke
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A4: Still trying to figure that out. Want to come up with some kind of project to keep engagement up, but not sure what yet.
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Going to try a large group composition project in that final week and a half this year...will write about it.
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A4: planning on reviewing concepts with games and songs
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A4: we also do some comparisons to other groups we find on youtube.
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When I was an undergrad, we sight-read a bunch of stuff for the next year. It was fun.
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What will you be using for the composition? Flat?
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I think I'm going to have small groups compose different sections, and I'll throw them together in Sibelius.
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Probably just pencil/paper with a few different rhythmic/melodic prompts to get them started.
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Sounds cool! Look forward to reading about it.
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A4: sorry for being late - learn SOE combo charts with full band introduce/develop improv skills
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Definitely a cool idea. Even the youngest bands could handle a basic 12-bar blues, too.
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A4: Was contemplating some variation of and letting students choose some music related project to work on.
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Blog about it if you decide to do this!
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we do genius hour. The spring projects in my top ensemble are some of the most interesting. Some take us outdoors!
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Definitely. Wanted to use it to start in fall but saw a tweet yesterday saying try crazy ideas now instead of waiting!
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Cool! How large are your groups? Do you have tech access in class? Figuring out logistics to make it work.
