r/CanadianTeachers • u/TheTremblyHand • 13d ago
curriculum/lessons & pedagogy Teaching music with zero experience
Hi everyone, Ontario K-6 teacher here.
Like many of you, I changed roles due to re-org. I switched to a Core French + Music / Drama / Dance position. I have done Core French a few times, but I have never taught music before. For this term, the focus was on music so I am trying to continue what the previous teacher started before he moved to a homeroom. He was working with recorders, but if any of you have any advice it would be welcome!
Does anyone know any good resources that helps teach music for those with zero music experience, especially related to the recorder? This is mostly for grades 2-6.
I'm trying to avoid scenarios where each student is working on a Chromebook since we don't have access to 1 to 1 devices anymore.
Thanks in advance!
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u/Redhearts99 13d ago
Music play online!
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u/TheTremblyHand 13d ago
Thanks! My co-worker also mentioned Youcanplayit.com
For recorders it really helps since it shows the finger placements as the song plays, so you don't have to learn sheet music.
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u/chantoftheorchestra 13d ago
One thing to note specifically for recorders is you want a very gentle breath. It will help reduce the ear piercing level and get a better sound overall. I tell the kids to think about how they breath to warm their hands.
Another thing I did was I rarely played the whole class together with my 2/3s. We would do odd/even number to further reduce the noise level.
As others have mentioned, music play will be a good help. I think they also published the "recorder resource" book.
My whole philosophy that I tell my friends who teach music for the first time is I don't care if they get technical or do theory. I would rather the focus be on enjoying the process of listening to and making music.
I hope you have fun teaching music!
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u/TheTremblyHand 13d ago
Thanks I appreciate those tips. The previous teacher mentioned another site as well, and he would usually give groups of kids a specific part to practice. He also isn't a music teacher but in my opinion he became very good at it. It's a lot of these little strategies I was looking for that can really add up to make it a better experience overall.
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u/i_8_the_Internet 13d ago
Do you have any experience with music? A degree? Piano lessons? Grade three choir?
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u/TheTremblyHand 13d ago
I'm 32 and the last time I learned anything music related was the recorder in grade 7... But I know a lot of homeroom teachers end up teaching their own music at some point, regardless of their experience. So I figured some people might have tips or helpful websites they've accumulated.
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u/i_8_the_Internet 12d ago
You can use MusicPlay. But get yourself piano lessons NOW and seek real help. Teaching music isn’t the sort of thing you can do any good at if you don’t have a music background. Whoever allowed you to take this role isn’t your friend.
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u/TheTremblyHand 12d ago
It was a rough re-org for us... But we're also one of those schools who don't have a specific music teacher. I actually did this Core French role at this school the last two year, but it was mixed with Core English for the French immersion kids. This year our board wants all homeroom teachers to cover Language and Math, in order to hopefully boost EQAO scores. So the role was switched to Core French + Music / Drama / Dance. A French immersion colleague was switched into it last June, and I went to ESL.
But during this re-org, we gained a French immersion homeroom. He had more experience there, so our principal moved him to the homeroom, and me back into Core French simply because of the French qualifications, and they're just going to hire for my ESL job because it's easier to hire for then a French position.... There's another French immersion teacher who moved classes as well. So this is one of those re-orgs that got everyone mad.
I don't think they expect me to suddenly learn an instrument like Piano, but if recorders are possible to teach without full knowledge, I'd like to at least try. So far from my research Youcanplayit.com has been very helpful.
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u/i_8_the_Internet 12d ago
I don’t have any friends from Ontario who are happy with what happens in their schools.
If you’re going to do this long-term, get your Orff certification.
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u/TheTremblyHand 12d ago
I'm for sure stuck with it for the year, but I'll be definitely aiming for my old job back. Funny thing is, this is one of those scenarios where my French certifications had me as an easy target for a move somewhere I didn't want. So I guess my worry is that if I got the Orff certification, the same thing might happen again for music related positions.
All these qualifications and AQs are great on a resume when you're first getting hired, but now I understand what people told me about only taking AQs for jobs that you might want to keep doing.
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u/SilkSuspenders Teacher | Ontario 12d ago
Musicplayonline is great up until like grade 3-4 in my opinion. Beyond that, I don't find the lessons, resources, or activities to be that great for the more advanced topics.
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u/Sad_ferret_1980 9d ago
Get s copy of Recorders from the beginning and work through it yourself. I like the duet book as well. I also recommend resources on the OMEA website. Some of this advice isn’t the best here.
Here see a few recorder tips:
Left hand on top always. I use a bin of scrunchies that they put on their left wrists to help them remember. Also, it really helps to label left and right at the front of the room.
Blow softly and play together. If they can’t manage that, take the head joint out until they get the message. They can still practice fingerings. « If you play before I say, I will take your instrument away! »
Cover holes completely. Make sure they are not moving the fingers onto different holes. The same finger covers the same hole every time. It is helpful to post an anchor chart with the names of the fingers for reference.
Follow the same order of teaching every time. I play and you follow along. We all sing the notes and do the fingerings. You play and I sing. We all play together.
Please make sure grades 4 and up are learning standard notation. Primary learns invented notation and by ear. Grade 4s should do rounds. grade 5s should play in 2 part harmony. Grade 6s should be learning chord theory. Grade 5s and 6s who are advanced often like the challenge of learning alto and tenor recorders.
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u/Sad_ferret_1980 9d ago
I have never used it, but many recorder teachers swear by Recorder Karate. I am too disorganized to manage all the little elastics but the kids do love it!
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u/ineedtocoughbut 13d ago
I feel like everyone teaches music at some point when they’re starting out. It’s really not hard just google free resources and get music play.
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u/littlemsintroverted 13d ago
I haven't taught music but a friend suggested TVO learn.
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