Advice for a new music teacher?
  • JaneC
    Posts: 6
    I am about to be hired as a part-time music teacher for a Catholic school, grades K-12. I will be teaching general music (twice a week) to grades K-6 and directing a choir for grades 7-12. I'm thrilled, but also feel underprepared. I have a few years of experience teaching private music lessons to children and teenagers, I was a teaching assistant at the university level, and I've directed choirs, but I have almost no experience with young children in a classroom setting other than having given guest presentations on a few occasions.

    The school emphasizes Classical education. The children use the Adoremus Hymnal for their twice-weekly school Masses. I know they will appreciate a traditional type of music program, with tried-and-true folksongs, chant, and good hymnody taught along with basic music theory and history.

    I have a college degree in music, but my focus was performance, not music education. I'm very interested in the Ward method, but I've seen a lot of admonitions not to attempt it without training. Unfortunately, I don't have the financial resources to get trained; even if I had a full scholarship to attend a workshop, I couldn't afford the airfare, and I doubt that enough interest could be generated in my area to warrant bringing a teacher here for a weekend. So, until someone wants to implement an online course, I'm on my own. Would it be worth my while to study the freely available Ward Method materials and attempt to incorporate the principles into my classes, or should I just forget about the Ward Method and find my own way? Can you point me to any other resources?
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,424
    Bear in mind that the Ward Method as a systematic course for teaching children music and the rudiments of theory, reading, and singing with a group, is very fine, and has much to commend it. There is one caveat: do not teach ward method chant, for it is very outdated and has been far surpassed by modern chant scholarship by others. Another method you might want to investigate for general music teaching is the Kodaly method. It has great success instilling music proficiency in children of many lands, including the US.
  • donr
    Posts: 971
    One of the Sopranos in our choir teaches music K-6 at one of the local schools in town. She teaches the Kodaly method and is having success.
  • Earl_GreyEarl_Grey
    Posts: 904
    Would it be worth my while to study the freely available Ward Method materials and attempt to incorporate the principles into my classes,


    YES. Of course you'll have to adapt and customise to your situation, but by all means read as much as you can.
  • Scott_WScott_W
    Posts: 468
    The school emphasizes Classical education. The children use the Adoremus Hymnal for their twice-weekly school Masses. I know they will appreciate a traditional type of music program, with tried-and-true folksongs, chant, and good hymnody taught along with basic music theory and history.


    I'm not a teacher, so I have no advice other than if it was me, I would fall on my knees thanking the Almighty that such a school even exists anymore and gave me a job. :)
    Thanked by 3Spriggo irishtenor Earl_Grey
  • ClergetKubiszClergetKubisz
    Posts: 1,912
    I've been teaching Catholic school music for about 2 years now, and I can rightly say that it is one of the greatest experiences that I've ever had! I love those children and I love teaching them! My preferred method is more Orff oriented, using the natural rhythms of speech to help teach the students how to read and perform rhythms. See if your state has any standards that you can use to help you in your lesson planning. Indiana has a great set of standards that can help guide curriculum. Let me know if you have any specific questions: I would be happy to help in any way that I can!
  • henry
    Posts: 245
    I too have a degree in music but not music ed. Been teaching since 1999, K-8. Don't enjoy it, but it makes me full time at my parish. I've used some old Silver Burdett textbooks with cds and the Ward Method, but I kind of pick and choose. I've never been trained in the Method, but it has really helped the children learn rhythms and basic major minor scales to the point where some of them can sing from a page without me singing it first and they repeating it. Best wishes in your new job.
  • bonniebede
    Posts: 756
    sounds to me like you have plenty of training in the music end of things. I don't, but have some teaching training and lots of experience working with kids of various ages.

    top tips - love your subject
    As far as working with kids is concerned, think about the teachers that inspired you. They probably had one thing in common, they loved their subject. If you can naturally communicate your interest in the topic the children will pick that up and respond.

    2. no fear -
    discipline is easy if you expect them to behave, if you show any ambiguity about the standard of behaviour you expect, they see it as permission to experiment with the boundaries. Remember how there were always some teachers you just never messed with? Calm and directive gets things going in the right direction.

    3. - be prepared.
    you already know that. And think about what to do if you need to add more material, or more likely, slow it down.

    4. Keep it moving
    ward is excellent for this, especially the younger ages, small pieces of work of varied sorts , moving at a reasonable pace from one to the other. time flies when you're having fun.

    5. Be cheerful and encouraging
    especially of those who struggle. And encourage those who can forge ahead to use their talents to help others rather than become wannabe divas.

    with respect to ward, I have no training and can see it is useful, but work with what you can. I use what I can glean from her books. I think like Montessori she was one of those naturals at seeing how to break down tasks into components which can be taught one at a time and then put together to accomplish the whole skill. That makes it genius as far as I'm concerned.
  • Musicteacher56
    Posts: 621
    I've been teaching Catholic school music for 7 years now, in three different schools (at one time I had three schools at once, for a total of 500 students on my rollbooks). All of the comments above are great, but always remember that, being an enrichment class, not every student is going to be happy to be there, especially in the middle school. I divide my school year into different segments beginning with theory (of course it progresses from year to year), Christmas program rehearsals and liturgical music, great composers and singing (both sacred and non-sacred music). The kids (all ages) love Kodaly games, and it guessing the hymns by using solfege. I do not use any CD's and like to play everything live. As far as keeping the students engaged, remember that not every student has talent and in theory lessons, in particular, not every student is good at math, and, therefore, has trouble splitting beats.

    As far as discipline, my students learn the word "tacit" very early, and all I have to do is say "tacit" and everybody quiets down. Boundaries will be crossed, however, and you have to be strict, remembering that music class is noisy enough without all the talking and extra comments behind your back. Do not be afraid of giving out referrals for detention. They've worked wonders with me, as has holding them out of school productions because of "difficult to work with" behaviors. After all, everybody wants to be in the Christmas Living Nativity.

    Good luck and God bless. Education is a ministry and, if treated as such, will give you years of joy, as well as enrich the hearts of those entrusted in your care.
  • MarkThompson
    Posts: 768
    As far as discipline, my students learn the word "tacit" very early, and all I have to do is say "tacit" and everybody quiets down.

    But taceo is second conjugation, so it will not have the -it ending. You might want tacet ("he is silent," which is what you usually see in scores), tace ("be silent," singular), or tacete ("be silent," plural). :-)
  • SamuelDorlaque
    Posts: 318
    Jane, you have the music education you need. Now comes the practice. You might find "Voice for Life" from the Royal School Of Church Music very helpful. You will have to adapt it. I think that some of the "Early Childhood" specialists have done more harm than good to music education. I disagree that everything has to "be fun" and "like their entertainment." Give them solid stuff. Make them expect more of themselves than the stuff they generally see on "Idol", etc. Most important, always plan more than you think you can accomplish, that way you'll always be able to keep them engaged. And remember the words of Leo Nestor: "Protect them from the "Kiddy Litter" that will rot their teeth and destroy their faith!" My wife always says that children are born with good taste and only lose it if we adults teach them that beauty "isn't cool." Give them beauty and good solid stuff and they will "rise to the occasion." I wish you much success!!!
  • Musicteacher56
    Posts: 621
    Mark--thanks for the clarification. Don't I feel stupid now! God bless. But, in my defense, it still works!
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