Re: Ruach ruach, wherefore art thou?

[Rich Glauber <dkrasnow...>]

Well, since everyone else is taking a crack at this topic I figured I might as
well add my two cents  (those are Canadian cents, mind you, worth about a cent
and a quarter in US funds).

Jeff started the ball rolling by talking about grades 4-6, but it seems clear
from other list members that there are concerns about all different ages.
Perhaps we could offer eachother some of our techniques and tricks that have
been effective in our communities, and thereby build a virtual well from which
to draw.  To that end, I will offer a few of my trade secrets...

I like to make music class a fun time, and any laughs I can generate from the
kids will bring up the energy (and the volume).  Here's a simple one for grades
1 and 2.  In the song "David Melech Yisrael" when you do the middle section, aba
ima etc, you can tell the kids that you will trick them, and then you can act
surprised and disappointed when they are successful with the correct response.
You go "aba aba", they reply "ima ima" you say "aba ima aba", they reply "ima
aba ima" etc, and all the while you are pretending that, "I've got you this
time", and then act shocked and disappointed when they get the better of you.
The kids love the feeling of putting one over on the teacher. 

Here's a fun activity for any age, (as well as a great focusing tool).  Play
"name that tune".  Tell the class that you're going to play the first few notes
of a song, and the first one to guess it should shout it out.  Tell them it's
worth five points or whatever, and see who can win.  Then pick out the first
three or four notes of whatever song you like.  I usually do about three Jewish
tunes per every secular tune, and it's always fun. I'll slip in the Jeopardy
theme song, happy birthday to you, the Simpsons, whatever.  You can also use a
fun activity like name that tune as a "reward" for trying their best to learn
the new song that you're trying to teach.

That's actually one of my main strategies for getting the kids to put out some
energy.  In a nutshell, "find something that they really like to do, and use it
as a positive reinforcement for doing what you have planned".  It might be using
percussion instruments, it might be a favorite song or activity.  Whatever it
is, "reward" them with it for a job well done.   

Speaking of percussion instruments, they can be very effective with all ages.
The main thing you need to do is have a signal where everyone stops together.  I
usually will tell them that "when you hear the number 4, everybody Stop!"  Then
when the song is going on, you shout out 1 ...2...3...4!     At this point you
can go any number of ways, bring the instruments in one by one, have a maraca
solo, have vocals and no instruments, have a super quiet rhythmic section that
eventually builds in volume....If you want to have some fun, pick up a few cheap
slide whistles, they cost about $6 in the music store.  Give a whistle to one of
the kids and have him/her play a solo in the middle of the song.  PS I usually
end a percussion song with a "big finish" in which I lift up my guitar and they
play a loud cacophony until the guitar signals the end by coming downward
quickly.  If it was really good I will often scream out something stupid like
"We love you Cleveland!" as if it were a rock show finale.  (but that's me)

Re: Grades 4-6, yes I agree that it is a much more difficult  proposition than
the younger kids.  I'll bet we've all had the experience of knocking ourselves
out trying to make it happen and be faced with that smug, vacant look that says,
"listen, teacher, you're wasting your time."  I don't think a "folk" approach is
going to be the answer.  I have half a notion to talk to my kids this week about
the email discussion which has been taking place, and ask them their opinion on
the subject.  After all, who knows better than they do what will be effective.
It might also serve to give them a sense of power, which I sense is at the heart
of the issue that we're discussing.  Yeah, I'm going to ask them, and I'll
report back if I come up with some interesting answers.

Let's keep it up...

Rich Glauber