Teaching music- guidance for the non specialist Jackie Schneider

Teaching music- guidance for the non specialist

• Jackie Schneider

• June 2011

The future of music education ?

Why teach music?

• It has the power to transform

• It is a fundamental part of being human

• It can prime children’s brains for pattern and order

• Developing aural memory is vital

• It brings new experiences to children and can open up new avenues for them

• Like language learning – needs to start early!

“But I’m not musical!.....”

• Are you

• A poet

• An historian

• An athlete

• Published author

• Statistician

• Physicist

• Mathematician

• Artist

• And it doesn’t stop you right?!

Busting the myth

Where do we start?

• Help your children find their voice

• Help them develop a “thinking” (internal) voice

• Teach the elements ( DON’T PANIC! This is simpler than you think!)

The elements

• Pulse

• Rhythm

• Dynamics

• Pitch

• Tempo

• Timbre

• Duration

• Texture

Singing voice

• Singing voice

• Pulse

Singing

• Any note is the right note!

• Start slightly higher than you think (Tip – think of starting note then sing 123 up the scale & then start on 3)

• Call and response

• You sing – they listen

• They sing - you listen

• Use the singing gesture

Thinking voice

• Need lots of practise

• Strong internal monologue is associated with high achievers

• Use thinking voice gesture everytime to signal to children

Rhythm

Pulse

• Heartbeat of the music

• Mark it by tapping knees or chest silently

• Felt, rather than heard

Thank you for listening!