Coursework

Seesaw has many learning tools that can be incredibly useful both in the context of virtual learning as well as in a traditional classroom setting. I found many activities on the Seesaw platform that were easy to assign and covered a range of topics including note reading, composing, rhythm reading, and identifying instruments of the orchestra. These assignments are fun and engaging for students, but they are also incredibly helpful ways to give students individual assessments in a quick and easy format without taking up too much class time or giving a formal quiz or test.

The Tuneful, Beatful, Artful Music Teacher is a podcast for elementary music teachers who subscribe to the teaching methodology of Dr. John Feierabend; in many of the episodes, including the one I listened to, Feierabend is interviewed and clarifies elements of his method and the psychology behind it.

In this episode, Feierabend discusses his philosophy that elementary music teachers should not integrate part singing into their teaching until the students reach third grade. This gives students the opportunity to build up their skill sets as "tuneful, beatful, artful" musicians and to become more independent singers. I thought this was a very helpful tip, as it can be tempting to expect second grade students to be able to perform rounds or canons, but one of the most meaningful statements Feierabend makes in the interview is the reminder that his method encourages creating an "effortless" learning experience for the student; while second graders may be able to achieve part singing, it will require a lot more of a conscious effort on the part of the student. Conversely, by fostering their ability to become independent singers during that time, they will be able to segue into part singing much more effortlessly as third grade musicians.