[HANASHIR:7946] Re: Help with 7th Graders...

[QuelliPG <QuelliPG...>]

Do they HAVE to sing?  I wouldn't force the issue.  Depending on your 
background and abilities to be a "Judaica" teacher rather than just a music 
teacher,  I would use songs as the basis for text study - what do you learn 
from this song?  How does the composer interpret the text musically?  Where 
is the text from (if not original)?  Write your own version or 
interpretation, etc.  Use songs to teach about prayer, about values, about 
Tanach, about life cycle, whatever...  The bonus for you and them is that 
they learn the songs subconsciously from hearing them over and over and many 
of them will be singing the songs in the shower or anywhere where they don't 
have the "humiliation" of being heard by their peers.  7th grade IS a wierd 
age....  
Raquel Gershon

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