Music Teachers Chatboard

Mrs H There are some lovely picture books illustrating America the Beautiful. I don't teach the song until 4th & 5th grade, but I still use these books because of the vocabulary.

America the Beautiful illustrated by Wendell Minor has all 4 verses, with illustrations of many locations around the country. ISBN-10: 0399238859 ISBN-13: 978-03992...See More

Nov 13, 2014

Charlotte Oh, thank you! I'll check to see if these are available at our library.

Nov 13, 2014

Scales for Exam

by Andrew

Nov 12, 2014

As a pianist, I never had too much difficulty in learning scales. A friend has just found this website:

[link removed]

which she's going to try out for her son (Grade 4 cello).

Has anyone used it or got any opinions on it?

egghead castanets

by Charlotte

Oct 30, 2014

Remember those fun egghead family castanets? Is there any place left to get them? A quick online search revealed nothing, and I know West discontinued them a long time ago.

Eileen Not sure where you can get them, but they are made by LP. Called Rhythmix. Good luck! I have the one that looks like a lady head.

On 10/30/14, Charlotte wrote: > Remember those fun egghead family castanets? Is there any > place left to get them? A quick online search revealed > nothing, and I know West discontinued them a long tim...See More

Oct 30, 2014

Toni On 10/30/14, Charlotte wrote: > Remember those fun egghead family castanets? Is there any > place left to get them? A quick online search revealed > nothing, and I know West discontinued them a long time > ago. I was just searching for them too and found nothing!! :(

Oct 31, 2014

Preliminary to Initial?

by Lauren

Oct 18, 2014

Hi there - I'm wondering if anyone out there has had experience with the "class measures" Performance Review Program for Initial Licensure program? Or suggestions on an affordable and convenient masters program? I'm in my 3rd year under my preliminary license and I'm trying to plan for my next step. I teaching for the Haverhill Public Schools.

visually impaired student

by anon

Oct 16, 2014

Hi

I have a sweet second grader who is visually impaired. He has a condition that is degenerative. He will not get better. He is also losing his hearing and has hearing aides. He is in the regular second grade and has an aide(but not visually/hearing certified). She is doing her best to help me out with ideas how to help him in music but w...See More

I once had a blind student Before the year even started, the entire music text book series for the year was recreated in Braille, so she was able to read and follow along at least the words for all the songs we sang.

I was also supposed to submit all papers, etc ahead of time so that they could be Brailled for her.

On 10/16/14, anon wrote: > Hi > >...See More

Oct 16, 2014

Charlotte I have a completely blind student who is still learning to read Braille, so we haven't incorporated it into music very much. I frequently create tactile listening maps for him, using things like yarn or the rough part of velcro glued to a board. When he was in kindergarten and we were reading quarter note and quarter rest rhythms, I used velcro to ...See More

Oct 17, 2014

Anyone use kazoos with large group/performance?

by Dee

Oct 4, 2014

Did you have any luck purchasing large quantities (say from Oriental)? I've never done well myself with the cheap party favor type kazoos...Or did you ask each child to pick one up for him/herself? How did you keep it a secret from the audience, so it came as a surprise? Thanks!

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lis Yes! I've used them with 80+ kids on a couple shows. They're always a hit. Each child had a number and I put the number on little snack baggies and stored the kazoo for each child that way. Also, I ran yarn thru the kazoo and tied it so that the children put them on and wore them behind their backs or underneath their shirt and were pulled out when...See More

Oct 9, 2014

dee Great ideas, everyone! Will be making use of many of them! Thanks so much!

On 10/09/14, lis wrote: > Yes! I've used them with 80+ kids on a couple shows. > They're always a hit. Each child had a number and I put > the number on little snack baggies and stored the kazoo > for each child that way. Also, I ran yarn thru the kazoo ...See More

Oct 15, 2014

Student Cancellations Advice

by Francesca Murray

Oct 9, 2014

Three (ex) students of mine that I travel to teach who are related, continuously mess me around by either not being home, changing the lesson times or cancelling last minute WHILST I'm at their location. I've reluctantly been putting up with this for the past 2 months. They cancel all three of their lessons a few hours before they're due for no goo...See More

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of course you are reasonable Especially if you've already traveled there.

Set up a monthly tuition plan. My daughter's teacher did it as follows:

A year of lessons includes 32 lessons. This is school year, September through May. Families pay a monthly fee each month, regardless of how many lessons they actually have in the month. This way, the teacher can rel...See MoreEspecially if you've already traveled there.

Set up a monthly tuition plan. My daughter's teacher did it as follows:

A year of lessons includes 32 lessons. This is school year, September through May. Families pay a monthly fee each month, regardless of how many lessons they actually have in the month. This way, the teacher can rely on a set income. The lessons are tracked through the school year. In May, if you have not yet had your 32 lessons - you can sign up in a notebook of available lesson slots over the summer to make them up. If you want more summer lessons, or you are not owed any, you can pay for the lessons as you schedule them.

She sometimes did rearrange schedules to make up during the school year as well, if possible.

This way - there is far less quibbling. You are paying a monthly fee to have that lesson slot available to you. If you choose not to show up - the teacher should not be the one to lose out.

On 10/09/14, Francesca Murray wrote: > Three (ex) students of mine that I travel to teach who are > related, continuously mess me around by either not being > home, changing the lesson times or cancelling last minute > WHILST I'm at their location. I've reluctantly been putting up > with this for the past 2 months. > They cancel all three of their lessons a few hours before > they're due for no good reason, to which I inform them I'll still > have to charge due to short notice of me not being able to fit > in other students requesting those times (in the most polite > way possible!). > They kick off saying that I'M the one being 'tedious' and having > the 'cheek' to charge them for a lesson they've not had, > completely ignoring how much they've actually messed ME > around. > > Charging for lessons cancelled on the day has always been my > policy, as it is with many other music teachers I''m familiar > with, as it was my Piano teachers when I was having lessons! > > I'd just like some advice on this, as to whether I'm actually > being unreasonable or not. Of course I always offer to > rearrange the missed lesson. > > Thank you in advance.

Oct 9, 2014

more from "of course" The monthly payment plan was really a suggestion to use going forward - to avoid this kind of thing in the first place.

I agree with the others, that if they aren't willing to agree to your terms - you aren't required to keep them on as students.

On 10/09/14, of course you are reasonable wrote: > Especially if you've already tr...See MoreThe monthly payment plan was really a suggestion to use going forward - to avoid this kind of thing in the first place.

I agree with the others, that if they aren't willing to agree to your terms - you aren't required to keep them on as students.

On 10/09/14, of course you are reasonable wrote: > Especially if you've already traveled there. > > Set up a monthly tuition plan. > My daughter's teacher did it as follows: > > A year of lessons includes 32 lessons. > This is school year, September through May. > Families pay a monthly fee each month, regardless of how many > lessons they actually have in the month. > This way, the teacher can rely on a set income. > The lessons are tracked through the school year. > In May, if you have not yet had your 32 lessons - you can > sign up in a notebook of available lesson slots over the > summer to make them up. > If you want more summer lessons, or you are not owed any, you > can pay for the lessons as you schedule them. > > She sometimes did rearrange schedules to make up during the > school year as well, if possible. > > This way - there is far less quibbling. You are paying a > monthly fee to have that lesson slot available to you. If > you choose not to show up - the teacher should not be the one > to lose out. > > > On 10/09/14, Francesca Murray wrote: >> Three (ex) students of mine that I travel to teach who are >> related, continuously mess me around by either not being >> home, changing the lesson times or cancelling last minute >> WHILST I'm at their location. I've reluctantly been putting > up >> with this for the past 2 months. >> They cancel all three of their lessons a few hours before >> they're due for no good reason, to which I inform them I'll > still >> have to charge due to short notice of me not being able to > fit >> in other students requesting those times (in the most > polite >> way possible!). >> They kick off saying that I'M the one being 'tedious' and > having >> the 'cheek' to charge them for a lesson they've not had, >> completely ignoring how much they've actually messed ME >> around. >> >> Charging for lessons cancelled on the day has always been > my >> policy, as it is with many other music teachers I''m > familiar >> with, as it was my Piano teachers when I was having lessons! >> >> I'd just like some advice on this, as to whether I'm > actually >> being unreasonable or not. Of course I always offer to >> rearrange the missed lesson. >> >> Thank you in advance.

Oct 9, 2014

teaching with no voice :(

by Charlotte

Oct 8, 2014

I'm know this has been discussed before, so sorry for the repeat post. I haven't lost my voice in several years (at least not beyond slight tiredness), but it is just about gone right now following a slight cold. I can barely speak, much less sing. I don't have many days and have to save them for my son's doctor appointments. I need ideas! What do ...See More

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Aymes Hi there, Sorry to hear about your voice. As a vocal/general music teacher, I understand what you are saying.....I teach grades k-5. For the older kids (gr 2-5) we have books so I made up worksheets where the students can work in partner groups to find questions about songs etc in the books. I have them on hand....already copied, ready to go in cas...See More

Oct 8, 2014

Holiday Song

by Jenni

Sep 27, 2014

Hi, Any suggestions for a really fun Holiday song for 4th/5th ( using props, etc.)

I have done Holiday Lights with the flashlight choreography and am looking for some concert closer of that sort. Thanks!!!