[HANASHIR:16495] RE: Sixth Graders Sing?

[efleischmann <efleischmann...>]

I've taught 6th for three years now.  It's a tough age when it comes
to issues of public embarrassment.  Remember:  some of the boys'
voices are in process of changing, and they especially do not want to
sing loudly for fear of cracking or squeaking.  Until you've got
student leaders who demonstrate how cool it is to care by singing
out, you've got an uphill battle.

Some of the problem is the congregational climate.  In congregations
with strong Shabbat attendance and a minhag of full participation,
students are more prone to singing their hearts out.  Their parents'
modeling is priceless.  In other shuls in which Sunday school has
sapped Shabbat attendance, students don't experience their parents'
joyful noise to the same extent.

If you can find something that they like to sing (e.g. "Hinei Ma Tov"
to "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" or "Elijah Rock" or "Not by Might" or
some other rouser) then they might sing out.  Sometimes my music
specialist would pit the boys against the girls, or one grade against
another to get a bit of competitive spirit going.  It usually worked.
Also, asking a few student volunteers to lead the singing from the
front of the room can often turn the situation around.  Songs with
hand clapping often get the ruach moving, too.

One thing you are doing right is modeling the behavior you want.  As
long as you and the specialist are singing in tune [;-)], then there
is nothing to confuse the students and everything to inspire them to
participate.

I think it comes down to this:  we can inspire them, but we cannot
require them to participate.  Despite the fact that in a year or less
they will be at the front of the bima leading (mostly) on their own,
few 6th graders take advantage of the opportunity to practice song
leading.  Even when this fact is brought to their attention, it
doesn't often motivate them, especially if the congregational climate
is non supportive.

Mazel tov, Yonaton!

Ellen Fleischmann
Choral Music Director
New Community Jewish High School
West Hills, CA

Adat Ari El,
K & 6th teacher 
N. Hollywood



---- Original Message ----
From: listmember (at) Ldwriter(dot)com
To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
Subject: RE: [HANASHIR:16490] Sixth Graders Sing?
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2004 23:19:02 -0500

>Hi there,
>
>I have two questions that I could really use any help on.
>
>I teach 6th grade at a local religious school, and despite my many
>attempts
>and my extreme enthusiasm as well as the extreme enthusiaism of the
>music
>teacher I cannot get my students to sing. This especially concerns me
>as
>they are suppose to participate in services later this month. Any
>suggestions for getting them to sing would be awesome!
>
>Also, does anyone know how I'd go about leading a workshop at CAJE?
>Thanks.
>
>Yonatan
>
>------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
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