How to Teach Music to Children in Grades 1-3
School education budgets are being cut all across the United States. As a result, elementary school music programs are often eliminated from the curriculum. Many studies have been conducted, producing the same results: students with musical backgrounds generally show increased brain activity and higher performance on standardized tests. Teachers with limited music backgrounds want to know how to teach music to elementary school students. A few basic steps can lead to an effective music program in first through third grades.
Instructions
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Read and follow the suggested music curriculum. Depending upon the state, standards can be mandatory or voluntary. MENC, the National Association for Music Education, has established a set of music-education standards that is used by many elementary school teachers across the country.
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Assess students' skill level. Play games to make the process easier. For example, to evaluate singing voices, use the familiar song, "Where Is Thumbkin?" Call a student to you and whisper a direction in his ear such as, "Hide behind the door." Follow this procedure with several other students. Sing "Where is Thumbkin?" substituting the students' names. They'll sing back the response, "Here I am," and not even know they're being assessed.
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3
Teach students basic notes. In first and second grades, naming the notes is not necessary. Allow the students to substitute words such as "short" for eighth notes, "long" for quarter notes, and "long-er" for half notes. This will help them keep the rhythm when they see the different notes.
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Compose melodies. Create a large music staff on the floor. Allow the boys and girls to position themselves as human notes on the staff. Using bells or the piano, play the composition that they have created.
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Sing with the students. Teach them new songs on a regular basis. Allow them to listen to a song several times before they sing it. Rounds are effective and lots of fun for young students. Visit "Beyond Row Row Row Your Boat" for lyrics and music to assist in singing various rounds.
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Play percussion instruments. Teach students to keep a slow, steady beat. Even if you don't have instruments such as wood blocks, bells and triangles, students can use their hands and bodies to tap out rhythms.
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Listen to and analyze different types of music. Discuss the feelings that different types of music evoke. Ask students to listen for phrases that repeat.
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Invite community members to share the music that is important to their culture. Provide background material to the students before the guest arrives.
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Stage recitals where the students can show off their talents. Young students need lots of practice to feel comfortable performing in public. Have them sing the songs standing up, sitting down and back-to-back with partners.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit music image by Markus Götze from Fotolia.com
