Different Approaches for Teaching Music

Demonstration of an Orff Schulwerk classroom

       I wanted to use this video because I liked that there were examples while they explained what a Orff Schulwerk classroom is and why they chose to use it. I like this type of classroom because it is more informal. It gives the students the opportunity to have a part in their own learning process. The students are more involved, and they are thinking for themselves. In a traditional classroom the teacher is doing most of their learning for them. There are wonderful benefits that come with  this type of teaching, but I also feel that some students need more direction than others. I want to clarify that there is a section in this video that, in my opinion is using the Kodály method. However I believe that you could combine these teaching methods and it would work very well.

Demonstration of the Kodály method

      Learning about the Kodály method, I would almost think of this method as more of a strategy rather than a method. If I understand this method correctly, I may have modeled it in my teaching a song assignment (I may have demonstrated it poorly). I do think that it is a good method to use with younger students. They are visual learners and they need to be able to see where the highs and lows are. I think that it also helps that they are moving their hands. It gives them a sense of what is happening and what will happen next. This method is nice when you are not only teaching music to sing but also teaching instruments. It is easier to transfer the information from one instrument to another. In this video there are several things that are happening and it might get a little confusing but I know for sure that the Kodály method is used in the beginning and at the end. 

Demonstration of the Dalcroze Eurhythmics method

        The Dalcroze method is probably my favorite method. I love that the students can act out what they are hearing. They are moving and using that to learn. They are enjoying their learning. Instead of just sitting there and listening to a teacher lecture about music they are actively experiencing what they are being taught. I like that in this video the teacher stops the story/song and checks to make sure that they understand the different tones and tempos. This method focuses on more on how the music make you feel instead of the technical portion of music, because of this reason, this method is best used for younger students 

Teaching a Dance

I had a hard time getting my videos to load so these are links to my videos. I hope they work!!

Teaching a Dance 

Demonstrating a Dance

Recorder Assessment

Tis and Tas

Notes 

Recorder

 

Instrumental Music Families (Week 9)

Woodwind - flute

This is one of my favorite songs and my favorite woodwind instruments. The flute is considered a woodwind because the air is being blown across the mouthpiece forcing the air into the instrument causing the sound as shown in this video. 

Percussion - drums  

My favorite type of percussion instrument is the drums. Percussion instruments are played by hitting or striking the instrument as shown in this video.   

Brass - trumpet 

I used to play the trumpet when i was in middle school and it is my favorite brass instrument. Brass instruments are played by the vibration of the lips on the mouthpiece and the air being forced through the instrument creating the sound using vibrations as shown here. 

String - Cello

The stringed instruments are my favorite category of instruments. Stringed instruments are played by using a bow or plucking the strings. The Cello can be played by doing both but is more often played by using a bow. 

Teaching a Song (Week 8)

Vocal Technique (Week 7)

This is my example of bad singing. First off, she forgot the words to the song that she was singing. Secondly, you notice that she is not keeping the correct tempo and that is an important part of singing. Also, she is off tune and her pitch is horrible. She is extremely nasally and she does not sing from her diaphragm. One thing that i do have to commend her on is her persistence to continue on.

This is my example of good singing, Mind you that this is not perfect but i think that she uses her diaphragm and singing very strong. She is not nasally and she uses vibrato without over doing it. She has a little twang to her voice but that her style of singing. Also she has good control over her falsetto when she chooses to use it. In my opinion, she might of had better control if she stood up. This opens up the diaphragm and lets you have better control over your range. 

Reflection (Week 6)

I did the poem "Fishy Fishy". I don't know how i successfully completed this poem, but somehow I did the tas and tis correctly. However I do wish that i would have been more enthusiastic. If students were watching my video to learn i did not do a very good job at explaining the beat and the rhythm. Hopefully the more i learn about teaching and music the better i will get at conveying the information in an exciting way.