[HANASHIR:7327] "Rachelle's Rules"

[Rachelle and Howard Shubert <notfranz...>]

I think the idea of offering courses to train Jewish music teachers is
wonderful.  And while certification and lots of music education don't
necessarily guarantee a teacher with enthusiasm, love of the music and a
"connectedness" with children, some understanding of simple pedagogical
principles and knowledge of how to choose age-appropriate repertoire can
help.

After I started working with kids I
wanted a more pedagogical basis and took some conservatory courses on music
education principles (Orff, Kodaly etc.)  and this has been invaluable in
helping me plan effective curricula.  I have gone on to give music education
seminars to classroom teachers.  Someone on the list said they weren't sure
where to find age-appropriate guidelines so in response I have tried to
distill some of what I teach in my seminars into 10 points.  I remember how
much I appreciated Jeff Klepper's
"Ten Commandments for Song Leaders".  Here then are "Rachelle's Rules" for
teaching music to young children:

1.  Keep the songs pitched in the children's range.  Usually that means not
too low.  Adults sing low.  Kids have high voices as a rule.  For very young
children (3 to 4) keep them say from middle C to the B above it.  Singing in
the key of D often does the trick since you are usually moving from D to A.
K to 3rd grade keep the songs more or less in an octave above middle C.  You
can dip down below middle C a bit as long as you don't stay there for long.

2.  Songs which modulate a lot are more difficult for young children to sing
in tune and should not make up the bulk of the repertoire in earlier grades.

3.  Words should be easy to understand for the level you are teaching.

4.  Repetition of patterns  in the lyrics or the melody are important.

5.  Give really clear instructions that children can understand.  Kids need
to feel successful.

7.  Clapping, body percussion and movement can be used to help teach the
rhythms.

8.  Make sure the kids are singing and not just being entertained. There are
some wonderful methods and tricks for this which I can't necessarily
communicate in a short message but a great way to learn these is by can be
learned by observing successful song leaders, children's choir directors and
music teachers.

9.  Especially in the earlier grades, notice the kids who are singing and
compliment them by name.  The others will tend to follow suit.

10. Know and love the music you are teaching.  To paraphrase Elu Devarim,
"this point is equal to them all because it leads to them all."

Rachelle Shubert
notfranz (at) total(dot)net
Fax: 514-697-4288

Cantorial Soloist/Choir Director
Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom
4100 Sherbrooke Street West
Montreal, Quebec H3Z 1A5
Telephone:  (514) 937-3575
Fax:  (514) 937-7058




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