Benefits of Group Class
Of course the weekly private lesson with your teacher is crucial for developing technical skills and advancing on the instrument, but it is often in group class where the child really gets inspired, deepens their abilities, and truly gets to experience what music is all about. Here are five reasons to prioritize your attendance in group class!
Of course the weekly private lesson with your teacher is crucial for developing technical skills and advancing on the instrument, but it is often in group class where the child really gets inspired, deepens their abilities, and truly gets to experience what music is all about. Here are five reasons to prioritize your attendance in group class!
Reinforce Technical Skills
Playing in an ensemble or attending a group music class provide students with the opportunity to practice and perfect the skills that they have learned in their lessons. Not only does group reinforce technical skills, but it also puts them to practical use and allows students to see the big picture!
Learn From Peers
Things tend to “click” in a new way for students when they hear their peers doing it. It is also very motivating and inspiring to watch others performing. When you see someone your own age, or close to your age, achieve something that you thought was too hard, it really makes you want to reach for the stars!
Enjoy Supplemental Curriculum
Let’s face it, there’s just not enough time to do everything in your private lesson! Group class is where your child gets a chance to explore other musical topics such as…
Music history
Music theory
Repertoire
Conducting
Ensemble skills
Compsoing
Ear training
and more!
Collaboration & Teamwork
Playing music together is one of the best ways for young people to develop collaboration skills! Whether you are playing in a small chamber group or a massive orchestra, each person and each part is important. Students develop personal responsibility and learn to take their contribution to the group seriously. Students who experience music in a group setting also learn to share the spotlight and support each other; somtimes being the soloist, and sometimes playing a harmonic role.
Build Community & Friendship
It is incredibly important for all of us, adults and children, to feel like we are a part of a community. And one of the best ways to feel that sense of belonging is to be with other people that share a common interest. Music brings us together, teaches us to listen, to share, and to work together in harmony.
3 Educational Philosophies Every Parent & Teacher Should Know!
Incorporating ideas from the Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia approaches into music lessons.
As someone who does not believe in a “one size fits all” approach to education, I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about these three alternative philosophies. I am not dogmatic in my teaching and believe that it is not necessary to follow any of these “to a T” in order to gain the benefits. But rather, picking and choosing certain elements from each may offer the best educational experience for the child.
As a little disclaimer, I will state that I am not an expert or professionally trained in any of the following approaches. Please use this article as inspiration to do your own research and get more information on these methods in order to fit them with your own student’s or family’s individual needs.
1. Montessori
The Montessori Method (founded by Dr. Maria Montessori) is an educational approach that fosters self motivated learning through hands-on activities. Montessori education is student-led and self-paced. The Montessori classroom is multi-aged and is notoriously well organized. You will find child-sized furniture and a clean minimalistic environment. The materials for each activity are placed on a tray and laid out on a shelf for the children to choose from.
WHAT I LOVE:
-Use of on hands-on, kinesthetic materials
-Sense of choice, freedom, and autonomy for the child
-Focus on practical life skills
-Fosters independence in children
-Minimalistic environment
-Teachers support & guide but don’t instruct
-Laid-back, nurturing atmosphere
-Mixed age classrooms
Downsides
-Activities have a right way and a wrong way
-Curriculum doesn’t always value creativity
-Discourages fantasy play
MONTESSORI INSPIRATION FOR MUSIC LESSONS:
I love the Montessori approach and incorporate so much of this style into my teaching. I find that children of all ages are much more focused and engaged in their lessons and practice when they have hands-on manipulatives.
2. Waldorf
Waldorf education (founded by Rudolf Steiner) integrates the arts into all academic disciplines. Beginning in the early childhood program and continuing into later grades, Waldorf education values imagination and creativity. The Waldorf approach seeks to nurture the whole child; “the head, the heart, and the hands.” This threefold learning process of “thinking, feeling, and doing” allows students to take an active role in their education becoming independent thinkers and problem solvers. Surprisingly, in a Waldorf school, teachers typically stay with the same group of children for five to eight years! This allows them to develop a strong relationship with each student and better understand their development, needs, and learning style.
WHAT I LOVE
-Waldorf’s approach to early childhood
-Integration of the arts into all academic disciplines
-Prioritizes creativity & imagination
-Nurtures the whole child
-Teaching methods are appropriately tailored to the child’s developmental stages
-Students take an active role in their education
-Teachers develop long-term relationship with students
Downsides
Rudolph Steiner also developed a philosophy called Anthroposophy. Although this is not taught directly in Waldorf Schools, Waldorf teachers do study Anthroposophy and may use insights from Steiner’s work to apply to their students’ development and education.
Another potential downside is very little technology is used in a traditional Waldorf environment. (This could also definitely be seen as a benefit, depending on your perspective!)
WALDORF INSPIRATION FOR MUSIC LESSONS
For me, one of the biggest take-aways from Waldorf (particularly in the early childhood setting) is the sense of wonder and enchantment that can be created in the classroom. The Waldorf atmosphere is magical. From the way the teachers create a sense of family with their students to the way the environment is filled with soft, beautiful colors, this approach clearly captures the essence of childhood. I resonate so well with the Waldorf way, where creativity, imagination, and play are at the heart of education.
3. Reggio Emilia
The Reggio Emilia approach was developed in Italy after WWII when the community was looking to rebuild their schools and create a new progressive way of learning. The name Reggio Emilia actually comes from the city in Italy where it was founded.
A Reggio inspired model of education focuses on student/teacher collaboration and follows an interest based curriculum. It is centered around the belief that all children have high potential and are capable, competent, and creative. The environment is seen as the third teacher and is designed in a way that ignites and supports learning.
Reggio inspired teachers treasure the many ways children explore the world and express themselves. This belief that children use art, music, language, movement, experimentation, relationships, and many other avenues to learn is referred to as the “hundred languages.”
What I Love
-Self-guided curriculum/ interest based learning
-Project learning
-Sensory based learning
-Integrated subjects
-Teacher learns alongside the student
-Encourages children to follow their curiosity
-Uses a variety of learning modalities
Downsides
Interest based curriculum puts the power of learning in the hands of the child and I believe that is absolutely wonderful in so many ways. However, when there are specific skills that we would like students to learn, this approach may leave us parents & teachers wishing we could steer the ship in a certain direction.
Reggio Inspiration for Music Lessons
So how do we combine interest based learning with teaching children the basic instrumental (or academic) skills that everyone just needs to know?
Julie Bogart (who is not associated with the Reggio Emilia approach) wrote a book called “The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life.” In her incredible book, Julie states that “You can learn everything from anything!" I use this approach all the time to combine the child’s interests & ideas with whatever musical skill I would like to teach them. Here’s how it works: You take whatever the child is really into like dinosaurs, ballet, Paw Patrol, or marine biology and teach everything else through that thing.
By allowing children to learn how to play the flute through the lens of their own unique passions, you automatically capture their interest and attention. They learn better, focus longer, and will grow up to be more invested in their education.
While this seems like a lot of extra work for the teacher, sometimes I just tell the student straight up," “Hey so today we need to practice this and that. Can you create a flute game so we can use your mermaids and also play the song?” Every time I’ve said that, it’s led to an extremely productive lesson. When a child hears that you value their ideas and they understand that you are on their team, learning becomes a collaboration and not a power struggle.
That is how I combine the Reggio idea of the self-guided curriculum while also teaching core skills.
The hands-on activities of Montessori, the colorful & creative atmosphere of Waldorf, and Reggio’s integrated subjects following the child’s interests are the main pillars that guide my approach to teaching young children.
What parts of Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia resonate with you?
Holiday Themed Music Activities
Try these fun holiday inspired music activities to transform your child’s practice time into play time!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! As we all decorate our homes for the holidays, why not decorate our flutes too?
You can also learn how to make these adorable mini flute hats:
Or purchase one already made:
Aside from flute decorating, there are plenty of other ways to use your holiday decorations for music lessons or practice at home. It just takes a little bit of creativity!
Try printing out a big musical staff and using bells for notes! This is a wonderful way to continue practicing note reading when you might be on break from lessons. Including hands-on activities to your music practice routine is a wonderful way to keep young children engaged.
Bows can also be a very versatile manipulative for games! Try using them for rhythm bingo or I Spy for musical symbols.
Here we made a DIY Ice Air Hockey Rink for a seriously fun way to practice air & breath work!
Make the rink by filling a tray with water and then putting it in the freezer for a couple of hours. You will also need a straw for each player and a flat bottom gem for the puck. Using a straw, each player tries to blow the puck to the other side for a goal. It seems simple, but this really works your lungs! Taking deep breaths and blowing long, sustained air are important skills for any woodwind player.
And if you don’t want to make it an air game, you can simply use game pieces for the “pushers”. It really does feel like you are playing air hockey, just on a smaller scale!
Of course playing your favorite songs of the season for family and friends is a wonderful way to connect and spread that holiday cheer!
5 Cool Ways to Practice!
How do I get my child to practice their instrument? If you are stuck in a rut and not making much progress with music lessons, here are some fun ways to spice up your practice routine at home and have some fun!
Make a musical board game!
Think Monopoly, Chutes & Ladders, or Candy Land! Make your own game board and laminate it. Each week, write your practice items, review songs, and scales on the board with dry erase markers. Find a dice and some game pieces and play together as a family! Keep it simple or get extra creative with lots of rules, challenges, and components.
Photo by Flute Play
2. Make a fortune teller
Make a paper fortune teller and fill it with items on your practice list. Scales or rhythms go on the outside and songs & technique go on the inside flaps.
3. Build an obstacle course
Does your child need movement while practicing? Then this one's for you! Set up an obstacle course either outside in the backyard or in the middle of the living room! Jump, spin, skip, run, and leap through as many challenges as you like. Pillows, jump rope, blankets, hula hoops, whatever you have around will work great.
Then, pick 2 or 3 spots throughout the course to add stop signs. When your child gets there...FREEZE! You hand them the flute and they play through their song or repetition. Timing the race is fun, but pause the stopwatch while they are actually playing. We don't want to encourage messy, rushed practicing.
4. Draw a Card
Write everything you need to practice down on little pieces of paper. Fold each one up tight, like a secret message! Then drop the papers in a hat, shake it up, close your eyes and draw one at a time. Simple but fun!
You can also do this virtually by downloading a spinner app on your tablet or phone. Input your practice points, spin the wheel, and see what you get!
5. Color-by-Number
You can find color-by-number pictures online and print right from home. Each number is already assigned a color. Your job is to assign each number something to play on your flute.
Here are some examples:
1= Blue= G Major Scale
2= Orange= New Song “A” Section
3= Yellow= New Song “B” Section
4= Purple= Review Song
And so on...
Print simple pictures that you can finish in one practice session or go for a more complex design that will take you all week to complete.This is such a rewarding experience because at the end you get a beautiful piece of artwork to display!
It also shows your child that each little piece matters, every repetition counts, and new skills are built one step at a time.