How This Presentation Came to Be
How This Presentation Came to Be
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I have been teaching for almost 25 years, and one of the biggest changes I have seen in my students is their lack of resilience.
About 10 years ago I was starting up the annual "Instrument Petting Zoo" where prospective band students get to try the different instruments. This is usually a joyful and LOUD event, but for the first time the kids were hesitant to hold the instruments, and I kept hearing the question "what if I suck? what if I am not good at this?"
As Henry Matisse says "Creativity takes Courage". Making music is messy, loud, and full of opportunities to make mistakes. I expect a bit of hesitancy, but to be afraid to even make a "bad" sound really derails learning.
I realized the kids didn't know how normal it was to make mistakes. They may have had adults in their life who appeared to know it all, and have it all together....but lucky for them, they were stuck with me...I may be an adult but I can't help being myself.
Part of this is due to my neurodiversity, but honestly I am just a bit of an weirdo...so I decided that instead of doing things right...at least initially...I would give them opportunities to figure out what didn't work, and apply it to future learning so that they could be more indpendant in the long run...and hopefully not terrified to make a mistake.
This presentation is some of the things that have worked, and haven't along this journey. I hope that you will gain some ideas to try, or some validation for your own methods, and that you will share what you have learned with others so that we can create music rooms where kids can become not just better musicians but humans who, to quote Ms. Frizzle "Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy"
Let's Get Started...click the buttons below to explore the different topics
Helping Students select the best instrument for them
What we do before we put instruments in their hands matters.
How to Keep Parents in the loop easily
Starting multiple instruments at the same time doesn't have to be this hard
Ditch the band folder and acheive more than just less lost music
Help them help themselves and feel good about it.
Progress isn't something we naturally hear...let's change that
Supporting positive behavior with clear expectations
How can we manage our complex classrooms more easily, and effectively.
About the Presenter:
About the Presenter:
Sarah Batchelor (nee Seymour)
Sarah Batchelor (nee Seymour)
Sarah Batchelor graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Education in 2000. She has taught Band, Choir, Jazz Band, and Elementary Music in 3 different school divisions, currently calling Rocky View Schools in Airdrie Alberta Canada home.
Sarah considers herself a Conductor, Pianist, 2nd Soprano, Percussionist and Brass musician who embraces neuro-spicey-ness in all aspects of her life.
She is an obsessive crochet/knitter/canner/tech loving/true crime binging mother of 5 children, 3 boys, a girl, and a non-binary kiddo. 3 of these children have a ND diagnosis. Sarah is open about her journey to find a diagnosis of ADHD, Autism, dsylexia and her mental health struggles because she has learned that “living out loud “ gives others permission to be open and honest as well.
Music is a powerful tool for making the world a better place and Ms. Seymour is blessed to be living her best life making music with musicians of all ages.
Sarah feels akward writing this bio in the third person....but feeling akward is a way of life....so....
Ms. Seymour's Alter/Ego
Maestro Seymoursaurus
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