#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 18, 2016
8:00 PM EDT
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It's time for . Our topic tonight: Student collaboration. Be sure to introduce yourself!
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Greetings! Amy from MI. Middle school band.
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Hi Amy, thanks for inspiring tonight's topic!
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Sam Fritz middle school band Greenwood IN
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Hi Sam, good evening. Hope your week is off to a good start.
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Sara from IL. MS band and orchestra.
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Hi Sara, hope you're doing well tonight.
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Amanda Knudtzon from CA. k-8 General music and band
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Hi Amanda, welcome to the chat!
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Q1: What opportunities for student collaboration are already embedded in your curriculum?
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A1: I try to find as many ways as possible to have students constructively converse with each other.
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A1: stop rehearsal give kids 30 second partner practice, share, class gives pos, improve, celebrate
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A1: Composers workshop, genius hour, peer feedback processes, sectionals.
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A1: Biggest thing is our chamber concert in March. Students select and rehearse pieces on their own, w/ some guidance.
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A1: Small group and partner work with lots of opportunities to turn and talk so they can work on solving problems together
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I'm looking more and more into Genius Hour for the last month of school. Working out some tech logistics...
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forgot to add chamber music to my list! I love watching the group dynamics in all of the ensembles and how they rehearse!
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With some of these conversational collaborations, what prompts do you give your students?
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Tech can be a challenge. We make it work with minimal tech to byot. It becomes very hands on as it progresses.
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what did you like? What can improve? How? Show me
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I give up one rehearsal a week for students to find and explore their passion on a topic of their choice.
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Hey everyone, Mike from Yorkville, Illinois here. Sorry to be late!
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Running into possible snags w/ blogging due to dist privacy policies. Want Ss to have authentic audience though
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Hi Mike, welcome to the chat!
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Reading Pure Genius by right now. Lots of great ideas for !
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A1: Anyone try with large ensemble classes? How do you manage?
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You could have them use a google site. That way the audience can be limited for safety.
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Ohh! I'll have to look into that. Thank you for the idea!
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The limited audience is the prob. Want them to be able to share beyond school community.
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Q2: What collaborative opportunities are you interesting in trying out in the future?
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True. With a middle school band class of 40-50 could be scary. With kids on own devices though maybe...
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Could be an option. Working with the IT Powers that Be to figure out our options.
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A2: For my older students to have more opportunities to work with and help my younger students on instruments
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I'm sure has a ton of experience when it comes to student blogs. He might have ideas
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A2: I want to try having Ss start coteaching with me. Idea came from a book I'm reading about teaching in urban settings.
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Our HS ensembles spent a lot of time working with kids in 5-8 this year. So rewarding for everybody.
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Good call! He may be my next stop for questions after I get some more info on options.
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We do that w/ 7th & 8th grade Ss. They love it and rise to the challenge.
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A2: core team working on STEM colab unit. I want to add fm position portion with winning project earns live performance
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This is a great idea. Are you in a unit district?
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That would be great for my kids! Not to mention a great recruitment tactic for the HS
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I'm at one school site that offers music k-8. Gives me a lot of potential flexibility.
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We commissioned a piece by a local composer a few years ago for recorders & 5-12 grade band. Lots of fun to put together!
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That's awesome! Who is the composer?
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You could skype the composer and give your students a "global" communication component.
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Anthony Lai of band worked w/ us. Came and got ideas/feedback from Ss. Cool to be part of the process!
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A2: core team is working on collaborative STEM project. I want to add composition for the "A" winning project gets live perf
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We were fortunate the composer was local enough to make personal visits. Skyping w/ be good option too though!
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Q3: What are the challenges when it comes to fostering student collaboration?
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Sitting the 3/4 gr Ss next to HS band members was a blast. The looks of awe were worth it alone.
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A3: Sometimes Ss aren't sure what to do w/ that kind of freedom. More comfortable being told what/how/when/etc.
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Yeah, too much freedom can lead to some poor decisions. Or it can cripple the process because Ss are overwhelmed
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A3: coaching your admin that what they see is not off task and making sure it is not with specific topics and short time
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A3: Holding everyone accountable for their participation
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A3: Making sure Ss remain authentic and honest while mindful of each others' feelings. Very MS level concern.
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Yes but you'll become the example of 21st Century Learning in your school! :)
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Hey everyone. Jumping in late. 6-12 band, 9-12 choir.
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A3: Younger kids need some coaching up on social interactions sometimes. We had a few heated chamber rehearsals.
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Welcome! Hope you've been well.
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Never a bad idea to let your admin know when you're going to try something or take a risk. Explain why its awesome
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A3: students collaborate everyday, the biggest issue is actually communicating.
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hi thanks for thinking of me! Let me know if I can help, or what you have come up with!
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I developed an " I need help" signal so I can intervene if Ss attempt to self-regulate his peers and failed
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I like that idea a lot!!!
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Q4: What are the most rewarding results of your student collaborations?
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Will do! As always, thx for being willing to help! Waiting on some answers & going from there.
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A4: Hearing Ss coach each other using the same strategies we use in full group rehearsal.
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mine too I just want them to know that collab doesn't have to be group projects - I'll have them call :)
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A4: Student ownership! Hello, I'm a latecomer. Band Director turned Curriculum Specialist.
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A4: There are few things as awesome as hearing Ss having musical conversations w/out being prompted!
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A4: I love seeing the students grow in confidence once they figure out what they're capable of tackling without me.
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Can be eye opening to my own habits and phrases as well when I hear Ss use them! :)
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I'll send you more details if you want
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A4: Watching how seriously they take the task and how proud they are to show me their accomplishments
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Please do! Want to push Ss outside comfort zone, but good to have safety net if needed, especially for MS Ss.
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you are talking about tackling a full band PBL! That is awesome!
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This relates to what I'm seeing was discussed earlier. Keep music kids engaged, not just on task! https://t.co/23UvNIDweI
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Thanks for a great chat tonight, everybody!
