Teaching Instrumental Music Articles

• Instrumental Music in General Education - Glenn Frederick Heinlen

This article is a little outdated, but I think a great deal of it can still apply today. The main point of this article is the use of exploratory music programs. The program outlined had students starting in 5th grade spend a week learning about the different instrument families and at the end of the week, listing their top three choices for instrument. Then each student spends a few weeks learning each of the instruments of his/her choice. After learning at least the basics of these three instruments, the students then make a decision of which one they want to stick with. This typically needs very little guidance, as the student can generally tell which instrument they had the most fun and the most success with.

Like I mentioned earlier, this article is quite dated, but I like the idea of a pre-band, exploratory instrumental music education program. Ideally, I would try to implement such a program sometime in the year before they begin band (i.e. if they generally start band in 5th grade, use this program while the students are in 4th grade). I think that students will find greater success and enjoyment out of band.

Heinlen, Glenn Frederick. 1965. Music Educators Journal. "Instrumental Music in General Education." 54-56. Retrieved on 9/22/09 from http://mej.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/51/5/54.

• Instrumental Music for Special Learners - Stephen F. Zdzinski

I believe this article is a very beneficial article in terms of giving helpful tips for adapting to having a special-needs student in an instrumental music classroom. Some of the tips it includes are:

Adapting the musical instruments - talking to the physical or occupational therapist to see what might work best for the particular student, and listen to the student's choice as well,

Adapting the social environment - both by preparing the rest of the class for the student, and preparing the student for the class,

Parental involvement - make sure parents are actively involved in their student's musical life by bringing them to outside concerts and assisting with practicing,

Adapting music - altering the way something is notated may make it easier to read. Also choosing music that the student can easily recognize it would most likely be beneficial.

Zdzinski, Stephen F. 2001. Instrumental Music for Special Learners. "Music Educator's Journal." 27-29,63.

• Adopting a Healthy Approach to Music Making - Kathleen A. Horvath

The main focus of this article talks about high school band festivals and the rigorous rehearsal times that go into these festivals. The author believes that these rehearsals are too much for middle school and high school students because they aren't properly developed. Along with simply shortening the amount of rehearsal time for these festivals, Horvath mentions several other hints for helping band students build endurance.

~Schedule after-school sectionals

~Establish proper posture

~Teach students to recognize signs of fatigue

~Always do some sort of warm-up drills at the beginning of class

~Teach students how to practice effectively

~Plan a short break for every instrument section during rehearsal

~Implement building stamina into a lesson plan

~Encourage practicing at home

~Reinforce good technique

Horvath, Kathleen A. 2008. Adopting a Healthy Approach to Music Making. "Music Educator's Journal." 30-34.