[HANASHIR:4271] Re: Song Selection

[Meris Ruzow <meris...>]

Karen - You didn't mention what kind of school you teach at - reform?
conservative?  supplemental I'm guessing.   I think it's very difficult to
teach all the songs that are out there.   We as music educators have to make
sure that our students are learning songs/prayers of their congregational
services.   We also need to teach songs of the holidays.   I try to tell my
principals (altho' I've never had the problem you mention) that I will
strike a balance of what the kids SHOULD know; traditional melodies, etc.
and those pieces that not only teach, but are FUN to sing.   There's a host
of literature out there that is fairly new that has wonderful curricula to
go along with it.   Perhaps you need to sit down with your principal and
give her/him specific examples - take 10 books with you or so and "prove"
your point.    Or ask him/her to observe a few classes and look at the
reactions that the students are getting from "her" songs and then from
yours.    It's definitely a juggling act but you're the music professional
and you should be able to work in harmony (no pun intended) with your
principal and not be told exactly what to do.  Between prayers, niggunim,
festive chassidic tunes, songs about Tikkun Olam, modern pieces, the
possibilities are endless and he/she shouldn't be dictating what you should
do.   How could he/she possibly be familiar with the literature if he/she's
not a music professional?
Meris Ruzow
-----Original Message-----
From: DurlKare (at) aol(dot)com <DurlKare (at) aol(dot)com>
To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
Date: Tuesday, October 26, 1999 12:11 PM
Subject: [HANASHIR:4270] Re: Song Selection


>I am always amazed at those on the list who write in asking for songs to
use for various occasions, because basically, the educator at our school
selects the songs for me.  Generally they are songs I don't know (and
usually, don't like).  Generally, they include anything I have written.
Generally, if I try to teach anything new or of my own composition, it is
not highly regarded by the teachers, since they don't know it and it's not
what they've done for the last 20 years.  If any of you have had a similar
experience and ways of dealing with it, please write, either the list, or me
personally!
>
>Thanks!
>-Karen Daniel
>Jewish songwriter/performer/recording artist
>and SOMETIMES teacher of children at religious school!
>in Nashville, TN
>
>
>

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