Enhancing the Professional Practice of Music Teachers : 101 Tips That Principals Want Music Teachers to Know and Do

Annotation If you want to improve your professional performance and set yourself apart from your colleagues-in any discipline-these tips are for you. If you desire anything less than achieving the very best, you won't want this book. Rather than addressing research and theory about music education or the "how-tos" of teaching, these time-honored tips focus on common-sense qualities and standards of performance that are essential for success-everywhere. Whether you're considering a career in music education, entering your first year of teaching, or nearing the end of a distinguished tenure, this advice applies to musicians in any setting. Affirming quality performance for experienced teachers and guiding, nurturing, and supporting the novice, Young outlines what great music teachers do. Easy to read and straightforward, read it from beginning to end or focus on tips of interest. Come back time and again for encouragement, ideas, and affirmation of your choice to teach music Contents......Page 6 Foreword......Page 12 Preface......Page 14 About This Book......Page 16 Acknowledgments......Page 20 National Standards for Music Education......Page 22 Part I: TIPS THAT ESTABLISH EFFECTIVE PRACTICE WITH STUDENTS......Page 24 Tip 1: Focus on Children......Page 26 Tip 2: Maintain Perspective......Page 27 Tip 3: Expose Students to All Genres of Music......Page 28 Tip 4: Not Everyone Wants to Be a Music Major......Page 30 Tip 5: Teach Students How to Listen......Page 31 Tip 6: Create Independent Sight-readers......Page 32 Tip 7: Encourage Solo and Ensemble Participation......Page 33 Tip 8: Teach Students to Conduct......Page 35 Tip 9: Teach Theory and History......Page 37 Tip 10: Teach Showmanship......Page 39 Tip 11: Teach Career Opportunities......Page 41 Part II: TIPS THAT SUPPORT RECRUITMENT......Page 44 Tip12: Set Realistic Recruitment Goals and Collect Data......Page 46 Tip 13: Work Closely with Classroom Teachers......Page 47 Tip 14: Partner with the Local Music Dealers; Establish Expectations......Page 49 Tip 15: Create a Standing-Room-Only Recruitment Meeting......Page 51 Tip 16: Recruitment Must Be Ongoing......Page 53 Tip 17: Kids Don’t Learn at the Same Rate......Page 55 Part III: TIPS THAT ENHANCE INSTRUCTION......Page 58 Tip 18: Refine Your Philosophy......Page 60 Tip 19: Know What You Want and How You Are Going to Get There......Page 62 Tip 20: Teach for a Standing Ovation......Page 64 Tip 21: Be the First at Each Rehearsal and the Last to Leave......Page 66 Tip 22: Start Class on Time......Page 67 Tip 23: Stay within Established Times for After-School Rehearsals......Page 69 Tip 24: Plan Ahead (It’s Not the Kids’ Fault That It Rained All Week)......Page 71 Tip 25: Speed Kills......Page 72 Tip 26: You Want Students to Respect You More Than Like You......Page 74 Tip 27: Be a Master Motivator......Page 76 Tip 28: Teach Students to Be Competitive and Accountable......Page 78 Tip 29: Remove Stereotypes......Page 80 Tip 30: Take Charge of Your Schedule......Page 82 Tip 31: Learn Everyone’s Name......Page 84 Tip 32: Learn How to Treat Students Fairly......Page 86 Tip 33: Be on the Lookout for Bullies......Page 88 Tip 34: Limit Your “Okays”......Page 90 Tip 35: Teach the Standards......Page 92 Tip 36: Utilize Technology......Page 94 Tip 37: Assess Student Progress......Page 95 Tip 38: Never Give More Than Three Directions at a Time......Page 96 Tip 39: Don’t Rehearse the Violins While the Trombones Wait......Page 98 Tip 40: Don’t Stand in the Same Place......Page 99 Tip 41: Continuously Improve Classroom Management......Page 101 Tip 42: Take a Course in Counseling......Page 104 Tip 43: Encourage Private Lessons......Page 106 Tip 44: Record Private Lessons......Page 108 Summary: Another Perspective on Instruction and Professional Performance......Page 110 Part IV: TIPS THAT ENHANCE THE PROFESSION......Page 116 Tip 45: Be an Advocate for the Arts......Page 118 Tip 46: Understand the Child of Poverty......Page 120 Tip 47: Promote the “Mozart Effect”......Page 122 Tip 48: Learn the Value of Public Relations......Page 124 Tip 49: Invite the Mayor to Conduct......Page 125 Tip 50: Befriend and Respect the Custodians......Page 127 Tip 51: Be Active in Your Community......Page 128 Tip 52: Write Grants......Page 129 Tip 53: Never Underestimate a Booster Club......Page 130 Tip 54: Create a Program for Performances......Page 132 Tip 55: Train Volunteers and Chaperones......Page 134 Tip 56: Sing, Dance, Create, and Perform......Page 136 Tip 57: Teach Audience Etiquette......Page 138 Tip 58: Pay Your Accompanists......Page 141 Tip 59: Understand the Needs of the Middle School Adolescent......Page 142 Tip 60: Get Along with the Coaches......Page 144 Tip 61: Engage the Community......Page 146 Tip 62: Make Ethical Decisions......Page 148 Tip 63: Organize Productive Fundraisers......Page 151 Tip 64: Learn How to Ask Questions......Page 152 Tip 65: Show Your Passion and Pride......Page 154 Tip 66: Create High-Quality Music with Preschoolers......Page 156 Tip 67: Emphasize the Multiple Intelligences......Page 157 Part V: TIPS FOR PERSONAL GROWTH......Page 162 Tip 68: Have a Life Outside School and Spend QualityTime with Your Family......Page 164 Tip 69: Don’t Smoke......Page 166 Tip 70: Keep Fit......Page 167 Tip 71: Eat a Balanced Diet......Page 168 Tip 72: Don’t Miss School Unless You Are Really Sick......Page 170 Tip 73: Maintain a Positive Attitude......Page 171 Tip 74: Don’t Overlook the Little Details......Page 173 Tip 75: Don’t Write Memos While Angry......Page 175 Tip 76: Commiserate, But Be Careful Where......Page 176 Tip 77: Know When to Leave......Page 179 Tip 78: Avoid the Dumb MistakesThat Can Get You Fired......Page 180 Part VI: TIPS FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH......Page 184 Tip 79: Organize the Music Room and Office......Page 186 Tip 80: Write Notes, Return Phone Calls, and Reply to E-Mail......Page 187 Tip 81: Learn How to Deal with Conflict and Show Restraint......Page 189 Tip 82: Prepare Your Students and Yourself for the Future......Page 193 Tip 83: Know Your Audience......Page 195 Tip 84: Don’t Procrastinate......Page 198 Tip 85: Avoid the “Geek” Stereotype......Page 199 Tip 86: Build a Team within the Music Department......Page 201 Tip 87: Always Make Your Principal Look Good......Page 203 Tip 88: Observe Each Other......Page 205 Tip 89: Guard against Burnout......Page 206 Tip 90: Read......Page 208 Tip 91: Give Professional Presentations......Page 209 Tip 92: Find a Mentor......Page 210 Tip 93: Perform......Page 212 Tip 94: Continually Improve Your Stage Presence......Page 213 Tip 95: Collaborate and Network......Page 215 Tip 96: Avoid the Status-Quo Syndrome......Page 216 Tip 97: Improve Your Leadership Skills......Page 218 Tip 98: Invest in Professional Attire......Page 221 Tip 99: Take Piano Lessons......Page 222 Tip 100: Take Classes and Attend Workshops......Page 223 Tip 101: Be Active in State and National Associations......Page 224 Thanking My Music Teachers......Page 228 Coda......Page 236 References and Recommended Readings......Page 238 About the Author......Page 242 Rowman & Littlefield Education Contents 6 Foreword 12 Preface 14 About This Book 16 Acknowledgments 20 National Standards for Music Education 22 Part I: TIPS THAT ESTABLISH EFFECTIVE PRACTICE WITH STUDENTS 24 Tip 1: Focus on Children 26 Tip 2: Maintain Perspective 27 Tip 3: Expose Students to All Genres of Music 28 Tip 4: Not Everyone Wants to Be a Music Major 30 Tip 5: Teach Students How to Listen 31 Tip 6: Create Independent Sight-readers 32 Tip 7: Encourage Solo and Ensemble Participation 33 Tip 8: Teach Students to Conduct 35 Tip 9: Teach Theory and History 37 Tip 10: Teach Showmanship 39 Tip 11: Teach Career Opportunities 41 Part II: TIPS THAT SUPPORT RECRUITMENT 44 Tip12: Set Realistic Recruitment Goals and Collect Data 46 Tip 13: Work Closely with Classroom Teachers 47 Tip 14: Partner with the Local Music Dealers; Establish Expectations 49 Tip 15: Create a Standing-Room-Only Recruitment Meeting 51 Tip 16: Recruitment Must Be Ongoing 53 Tip 17: Kids Don’t Learn at the Same Rate 55 Part III: TIPS THAT ENHANCE INSTRUCTION 58 Tip 18: Refine Your Philosophy 60 Tip 19: Know What You Want and How You Are Going to Get There 62 Tip 20: Teach for a Standing Ovation 64 Tip 21: Be the First at Each Rehearsal and the Last to Leave 66 Tip 22: Start Class on Time 67 Tip 23: Stay within Established Times for After-School Rehearsals 69 Tip 24: Plan Ahead (It’s Not the Kids’ Fault That It Rained All Week) 71 Tip 25: Speed Kills 72 Tip 26: You Want Students to Respect You More Than Like You 74 Tip 27: Be a Master Motivator 76 Tip 28: Teach Students to Be Competitive and Accountable 78 Tip 29: Remove Stereotypes 80 Tip 30: Take Charge of Your Schedule 82 Tip 31: Learn Everyone’s Name 84 Tip 32: Learn How to Treat Students Fairly 86 Tip 33: Be on the Lookout for Bullies 88 Tip 34: Limit Your “Okays” 90 Tip 35: Teach the Standards 92 Tip 36: Utilize Technology 94 Tip 37: Assess Student Progress 95 Tip 38: Never Give More Than Three Directions at a Time 96 Tip 39: Don’t Rehearse the Violins While the Trombones Wait 98 Tip 40: Don’t Stand in the Same Place 99 Tip 41: Continuously Improve Classroom Management 101 Tip 42: Take a Course in Counseling 104 Tip 43: Encourage Private Lessons 106 Tip 44: Record Private Lessons 108 Summary: Another Perspective on Instruction and Professional Performance 110 Part IV: TIPS THAT ENHANCE THE PROFESSION 116 Tip 45: Be an Advocate for the Arts 118 Tip 46: Understand the Child of Poverty 120 Tip 47: Promote the “Mozart Effect” 122 Tip 48: Learn the Value of Public Relations 124 Tip 49: Invite the Mayor to Conduct 125 Tip 50: Befriend and Respect the Custodians 127 Tip 51: Be Active in Your Community 128 Tip 52: Write Grants 129 Tip 53: Never Underestimate a Booster Club 130 Tip 54: Create a Program for Performances 132 Tip 55: Train Volunteers and Chaperones 134 Tip 56: Sing, Dance, Create, and Perform 136 Tip 57: Teach Audience Etiquette 138 Tip 58: Pay Your Accompanists 141 Tip 59: Understand the Needs of the Middle School Adolescent 142 Tip 60: Get Along with the Coaches 144 Tip 61: Engage the Community 146 Tip 62: Make Ethical Decisions 148 Tip 63: Organize Productive Fundraisers 151 Tip 64: Learn How to Ask Questions 152 Tip 65: Show Your Passion and Pride 154 Tip 66: Create High-Quality Music with Preschoolers 156 Tip 67: Emphasize the Multiple Intelligences 157 Part V: TIPS FOR PERSONAL GROWTH 162 Tip 68: Have a Life Outside School and Spend QualityTime with Your Family 164 Tip 69: Don’t Smoke 166 Tip 70: Keep Fit 167 Tip 71: Eat a Balanced Diet 168 Tip 72: Don’t Miss School Unless You Are Really Sick 170 Tip 73: Maintain a Positive Attitude 171 Tip 74: Don’t Overlook the Little Details 173 Tip 75: Don’t Write Memos While Angry 175 Tip 76: Commiserate, But Be Careful Where 176 Tip 77: Know When to Leave 179 Tip 78: Avoid the Dumb MistakesThat Can Get You Fired 180 Part VI: TIPS FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH 184 Tip 79: Organize the Music Room and Office 186 Tip 80: Write Notes, Return Phone Calls, and Reply to E-Mail 187 Tip 81: Learn How to Deal with Conflict and Show Restraint 189 Tip 82: Prepare Your Students and Yourself for the Future 193 Tip 83: Know Your Audience 195 Tip 84: Don’t Procrastinate 198 Tip 85: Avoid the “Geek” Stereotype 199 Tip 86: Build a Team within the Music Department 201 Tip 87: Always Make Your Principal Look Good 203 Tip 88: Observe Each Other 205 Tip 89: Guard against Burnout 206 Tip 90: Read 208 Tip 91: Give Professional Presentations 209 Tip 92: Find a Mentor 210 Tip 93: Perform 212 Tip 94: Continually Improve Your Stage Presence 213 Tip 95: Collaborate and Network 215 Tip 96: Avoid the Status-Quo Syndrome 216 Tip 97: Improve Your Leadership Skills 218 Tip 98: Invest in Professional Attire 221 Tip 99: Take Piano Lessons 222 Tip 100: Take Classes and Attend Workshops 223 Tip 101: Be Active in State and National Associations 224 Thanking My Music Teachers 228 Coda 236 References and Recommended Readings 238 About the Author 242 9781607093046 "If you want to improve your professional performance and set yourself apart from your colleagues - in any discipline - these tips are for you. If you desire anything less than achieving the very best, you won't want this book."--Jacket