Back to School: Student Autonomy in the Elementary Music Room
Alright, so, if you’re here, you’re either already back in school or gearing up for the big day. Regardless, you might be thinking about how to structure your classroom routines.
Personally, I am a big believer of teaching my students to have autonomy in the music room. I want them to have appropriate independence so that they are not relying on me to do everything for them. Kids love having jobs, setting up/putting things away, and it’s so good for them to realize that, regardless of their age, they can contribute to our class community in lots of different ways.
This can be hard for music teachers—we run everything all the time. It’s not like other subject areas where kids can read a passage, do some small group conversations and work independently. We are octupuses! Constantly orchestrating all things—playing multiple parts on the piano while singing and conduction, helping maintain different rhythms, playing various instruments and patterns, movement in all directions all the time.
Which is why it’s SO important to give them autonomy where you can in the music room.
So, what does that look like? There are tons of ways, but here are a few that I focus on (particularly during the beginning weeks of school):
Orff Instruments (this way I don’t have to set up tons of instruments—just tell them or post on the board what bars to remove)
Teach them how to properly to take bars in and out
Don’t immediately reach for mallets—slow yourself down
Pinch top and bottom of bar (aka 2 hands), lift straight up without wiggling pins, place removed bar leaning away from you in the empty spot (makes for easy cleanup!)
Safely transport instruments around the room
Carrying position, resting position vs. playing position
Hand Drums: always face DOWN (model what could happen if left other way)
How many people are required to move a larger instrument
How to take recorders in and out of their assigned spots and importance of doing so (germs!)
Taking ukes on and off the wall (numbered spots, behind the stopper so they don’t fall)
Once my students know how to do these things, it makes setup/cleanup and transitions so much more efficient AND they are so proud to have been helpful.
So, as you head back to school, or continue on with the beginning of the year, think about ways that you can hand off some of the classroom load to your students and see how it goes!
And, if you’re looking for BTS goodies, decorations, lessons, games, curriculum, etc. head over to my store and take a look around!
Take care,
Joanna