About This Lesson
How to Make a Positive Impact on Your Music Students
Connecting with students of any grade level can be difficult for new and even experienced teachers. Each new group of students comes with a new set of challenges. If these challenges are dealt with in a positive and effective manner, then teachers have a better chance at both educating their students, as well as having a generally positive impact on their lives.
Use a Calm Speaking Voice
Let's face it, music classrooms are some of the loudest classrooms in a school. Instruments are playing loud, sometimes off-key notes, students are talking when they're not supposed to be, and cell phones are chiming. All of these sounds can be irritating to both the teacher and the other students in the classroom. Do you know what other sound can be irritating? Yelling.
As it turns out, yelling at students has little to no long-term effects and does much more to mentally harm a student than foster a positive learning environment. Yelling may deal with a troublesome student for a moment, but it won't permanently fix the issue.
Does avoiding yelling mean that you can't discipline your students? Of course not. It just means that you don't need to yell to do so. After all, yelling doesn't solve problems. Talk to your students in a cool and collected manner. This can also help to encourage a trusting relationship between a teacher and student.
Prove Your Credentials
Students, especially those in high school, want to know that they can trust their teacher's skills. One way to make sure students know that you have what it takes is to show off your credentials. Even doing something as simple as hanging your university degree on the classroom wall can help to show that you've earned their spot as a teacher.
Are there other things that you have done during your time as a teacher before? Telling your students about online music degree programs you have taken part in, music you have composed, or concerts you have been a part of can help to improve your ethos as well.
Encourage Collaboration
In most classes, students are not supposed to talk or make a noise of any kind unless a teacher directly tells them to. By the time music class rolls around, students are happy to finally be able to make noise. As a music teacher, it's best to make sure the students are making productive noises.
One way for students to get making noises out of their system can include playing music. However, sometimes students just want to talk to their friends. This can be distracting during class. One way to make this distracting habit more productive is to encourage students to work together. This way, they can talk and still get things done!
Some great group projects for band students include having students try to compose music together, have them describe what they hear in a specific piece of music, and discuss their favorite songs to pick new pep band music!
Give Rewards
Students of every age love to be rewarded for good behavior. After all, if they don't earn anything for being good, what's the point? Naughty children often get more attention than well-behaved students, as they simply take more time to work with. This can sometimes leave good kids feeling left behind or unappreciated.
There are a variety of ways teachers can reward their students-- including free or cheap options. Young children may enjoy receiving stickers after behaving in class. Earning tickets to save up for bigger prizes can also be effective.
Older children and teens may prefer different rewards. Earning snacks, free homework passes, or free days are sure to brighten any high schooler's day. All of these rewards can be given as frequently as the teacher decides.
All in all, having a positive impact on students takes a lot of work. If a teacher puts in the effort, then it can lead to a positive learning environment. In a classroom where students are happy to learn, classes are sure to run more smoothly!
