[HANASHIR:7944] Re: Help with 7th Graders...

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

My sympathies, David.  This is a tough age group when they have decided not
to get involved.  In higher grades I have had some success with the use of
rhythm instruments, particularly drums.  If you have access to such things I
would recommend  a bongo, djembe, wood blocks, rain stick, egg maracas (the
professional black ones look cooler than the coloured ones) or any other
interesting rhythm instrument which does not look in any way baby-ish.  I
have used them both as incentives to sing out and as ways to get involved in
the music without having to sing.  Another thing which can be fun is the use
of an electric keyboard with rhythm options to provide a backup for a Jewish
rap.

Hope some of these ideas help.

Rachelle

----- Original Message -----
From: David Weisz <dweisz (at) brandeis(dot)edu>
To: <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2001 5:05 PM
Subject: [HANASHIR:7941] Help with 7th Graders...


> Hello folks...I'm in need of a bit of help. I teach music in a
supplementary
> Hebrew/Judaica school at a local temple, and despite the success I have
been
> having with most of my classes, I have found that my 7th graders are now
> entirely turned off from music. I grant that this is a very difficult age,
> but unfortunately that excuse doesn't make my 20 minutes with them any
less
> painful for me or for them. It is not that we dislike each other or that
> they do not understand my goals or my reasons for teaching them, rather
that
> they have it in their heads that they dislike music.
>
> So, instead of beating my head against a wall week after week, I'm looking
> for alternative ways to engage them in Judaic music. Something we did a
few
> weeks ago that they enjoyed was a "singdown" with Judaic themes. I chose
> words such as "peace" and "life" which they could translate to Hebrew, and
> they got "bonus points" for songs that were in Hebrew, but they were
allowed
> to delve into secular music as well.
>
> Does anyone have any similar activities that they can suggest that might
> work for this age group? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. It
> might be useful to know that the students come to school only once a week,
> and have music with me for 20 minutes during a 2-hour afternoon session.
>
> Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
> David
>
>
>

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