Journal #2

Over the past few weeks we have been examining several education avenues covering the general topic of teaching music to children. We have discussed topics such as using relative topics of songs with the appropriate age groups to ensure that the music lesson is as effective as possible. We learned the techniques such as tone syllables and hands signs to teach songs by notes. We spoke about utilizing tangible object to assist in the children visualizing and understanding the concepts behind music notes and rhythm. Recently we concluded our first lesson plan projects, which we taught a musical concept to several of our classmates as they were children of a desired grade level.
One of the most interesting aspects of this class is how we learn to utilize the lessons and concepts that are conveyed to us as possible techniques to teach children. We took a closer look at the interest of various age groups- whether it is food, animals, nature, family, or abstract ideas we simply brainstormed ideas according to the grade. Usually we grasped concepts best when we actually go thru the motions; we learned the hand syllables for music by making our own dance using the hand signals that we were suppose to perform for the class. We took a look at sheet music outlined with pictures that depicted the rhythm and notation value to help us understand the importance of getting across the ideas of keeping count in music. There was also the lesson plan that we recorded and critiqued as a class that enabled us to see what it is like to be on the other side as a teacher. It was interesting teaching the lesson plans and seeing how teachers improvise throughout the day when things do not go as previous plan. We learn how to plan for the gap of mysterious given the fact that nothing in life is perfect.
It is important to learn these concepts to be great effective teachers. It is the teacher’s responsibility to relay messages to the students to understand. Teachers have to possess the capability to achieve that goal, no matter how much of a hard time the student is having understanding the material. We have to understand the fact that children learn differently, one has to be able to incorporate sufficient skill techniques to capture the entire classroom and the lessons we complete as a class ensures that we are capable of doing such things.
It is important for music to be present at all age levels- therefore it is essential that the lessons be age level appropriate to keep the interest of the students as they advance through grades.
Problems these past few weeks occurred because of scheduling and life. There were not any real problematic issues.