Monday, August 6, 2018

Music Rehearsal Strategies That Really Work

By Jason Taylor


If you find that the kids in your music class aren't very engaged, you might try playing a few musically related games with them. This is a great way to get people thinking in a different way because you have to be active and involved to really be playing. This is why when people are trying to think of effective new music rehearsal strategies, games are one of the first things that come to mind.

If you have ever used flashcards, you know just how useful yet simple of a tool that they can be. There is something very effective about seeing the answers you are trying to memorize clearly printed onto a card, allowing you to have a visual reference that your brain can recall. When you are trying to remember what is on the back of a certain card, you are training your brain in such a way that few other games or activities can accomplish.

Every person is endowed with a natural musical instrument, even though many people don't think of it that way. This is the voice, and it is something that anyone can use to improve their musical abilities. Having your class sing out their parts is a useful technique to use when rehearsing since, even though some kids aren't very comfortable letting other people hear their voice, they will still probably have an easier time getting the rhythms and sometimes even the pitches correct.

Many teachers have their students clap out their parts. This is such a great idea because it means you don't have to worry about playing the right note or anything like that. When it is as simple as bringing both your hands together, it is much easier to just focus on the rhythms written on the page, and the teacher can easily hear who needs a little bit of correction.

It might sound absurd to have students in a music class dance. After all, this is not a dance studio. However, when students are instructed to move their bodies to the music, they might have a better time staying in the groove together.

You can't use the same games and techniques on a group of ten year olds that you would on a high school-aged class. You need to assess what level your students are at first. That way, you can choose a method that will speak to them.

Breaks are essential for any rehearsal. Humans have periodic needs, going to the bathroom among them. Kids also grow restless if cooped up in a chair for too long.

A great way to get everybody interested and excited is by using popular songs that people know and love. These tunes have very familiar aspects that make it easier to teach certain musical aspects. It might be a good idea to ask your students what their favorite songs are if you're not sure what is popular nowadays.




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