Pedagogy, it could be argued, is a meaningless academic fantasy if it isn’t proficiently applied. In music, we can do all of the “right” methods. Solfege, Takadimi, count singing etc. But, does it matter if they can’t use it to make music?
In this next iteration of the “The First Days of Choir,” inspired by Harry Wong’s educational text “The First Days of School” we get to be a fly on the wall during a discussion I had with a group of teachers not too long ago. We can start the year off right, and still lose momentum if we are not A. Assessing for understanding and proficiency, and B. showing kids that they CAN apply the skills they learned first semester.
Here, we unpack “whole language proficiency” and the auditory skills we want to develop. I will emphasize the importance of student-led sectionals, individual assessments, and creating a supportive learning environment to build confidence and resilience in young musicians. The discussion also covers grading philosophies, addressing student anxiety, and integrating sight reading into rehearsals to enhance overall performance and learning outcomes. At the end, you will even hear a portion of my “rehearsal bootcamp” that I love to do with teachers in workshops to have them “feel” these processes first hand.
🎧 Tune in now on YouTube or your favorite podcast app!
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com Also, don’t forget to grab a reading rope for your classroom wall from the shop! Music Reading Rope
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