[HANASHIR:7949] Re: Help with 7th Graders...

[Rglauber <Rglauber...>]

In a message dated 1/17/01 6:08:03 PM, dweisz (at) brandeis(dot)edu writes:

<< they have it in their heads that they dislike music.

 
David, it's a huge topic, and I appreciate the way that you presented the 
situation.  Here's my take on it, and surprise, I seem to be in a minority of 
one....

There needs to be a new music, a new attitude about music, a new way of going 
about music with maddle school kids.  For the following reason:  It's hard, 
if not impossible to do ANY kind of music with this age kid, let alone with 
the added burden of having it be a "Jewish Learning" experience.  It's like 
coming to bat against Pedro Martinez and you've already got 2 strikes .   
You're gonna strike out, my friend.

I mean, you can convince yourself that you're doing something if you quote 
tanach or talmud as part of the music class, but I don't think that really 
addresses the reality of the KIDS' EXPERIENCE!.   The students want something 
different.  They are dying for something different, and if you can provide 
it, you're a great teacher.

Let's say you're wanting to do a lesson on "justice".  There's that saying, 
Justice shall you seek.  or whatever is the exact wording in English or 
Hebrew.  I would do a repetitive, simple chant over two chords.   Could be 
reggae style, could be minor key Am to G  style,  something really simple.  
Then I would start talking over the two chords, talking about a time when 
something unfair happened to me, someone copied my homework and got me in 
trouble, I got ripped off by my lawyer, I got punished for something my 
brother did, that sort of thing.  Just spin a little anecdote.  Then sing the 
chorus  Justice justice shall you seek.....

Then keep the chords going and ask them if they've ever had anything unfair 
happen.  One of them shares while the chords are going on.   It doesn't have 
to go with the music, it doesn't have to be sung, just spoken.   "The teacher 
thought that I was talking but I wasn't"    then sing the chorus

Ask someone else to share about something unfair in their life   Sing the 
chorus...

It's creating a kind of vibe in which the kids have input.  It's creating a 
way for them to share with one another in a pretty safe (and revealing) way.  
It's presenting a small, (I repeat SMALL) bit of Jewish concept and showing 
that it has relevance to THEM.
The goal is to create an ambience for them to have a communal experience.  
They want to share, they want to be heard.  You need to create the context 
that will allow that to happen.

The focus needs to be on them.  Not on them as consumers of Jewish content.  
On them as interesting, creative people with something to say.  You could get 
into  many cool topics with this approach.  It's almost like a cross between 
music class and 7th grade "rap session"   (I'm dating myself, aren't I?)

Rich Glauber


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