Season One
Episode Four
Resourceful Resources for Upper Elementary and Middle School
As with Pre-K and Lower Elementary materials, there is a wealth of options out there for us to use in our classrooms. The key is understanding what works best for your students and often times that comes from trying materials with them!
Important things to know about upper elementary and middle school students:
1) They like to talk. A lot.
Use this to your benefit! Make time for talking with peers about the information they are learning. Allow for composition in partners or small groups. Help them work out snags and to listen to each other. Their talking doesn't have to be frustrating - allowing them to discuss, work together and utilizing time for interaction is very helpful for them and brings the stress level down for you.
2) They are going through a great season of change
Everything is changing in massive ways between the ages of 10-15. Physically, mentally, emotionally, socially. It's a lot for them to take in and sometimes they don't know how to handle it all. They are greatly impacted by their friends and their own opinion of themselves. Be their encourager and be patient while also expecting them to meet high expectations. They may not show it on the outside, but they like boundaries. They like structure. And they care - even if their facial expressions or words don't say that they do. They really do care. We have a great responsibility to help them through this time and allow them to see that our music classrooms are a safe and predictable place where they can learn and grow.
3) They need to move
Older students need movement as much as younger students. Have you ever seen them on a rainy day during indoor recess? They get squirrelly too. They aren't as in-tune to their limbs because many of them have grown so much. Regardless of how awkward their movements are, it is important for them to move and to feel safe doing so without fear of being made fun of. Make time for movement in the classroom.
4) They're still young
Older students still love games. They love competitions. They thrive on proving that they can do difficult things. Build in activities to lessons for 'fun' activities every once in a while and always let students know that you believe they can learn and perform musical pieces when they are challenging. Then help them get there.
Here are some of my favorite materials for upper elementary and middle school students.
Sanna Longden
Shenanigans
Books
Brent Gault and Carlos Abril:
Teaching General Music
Marla Butke and David Frego:
Meaningful Movement: A Music Teacher's Guide to Dalcroze Eurythmics
Body Percussion
Gunild Keetman and Carl Orff:
Music for Children Volume I
Rhythmische Ubüng
Drumming with a Passion
Canya Conga
To Drum
Hand Drums on the Move
Bill Matthews:
Conga Joy (side note: scroll down quite a ways to find the New Conga Joy book)
Marimba Mojo
Hot Marimba
Son of Hot Marimba
Steven Calintropio:
Pieces and Processes
Lessons in Elemental Style
Skins, Sticks and Bars
One Accord
Octavos by Jay Broeker:
Cedar Swamp
Hold On
Banjo Sam
Wild Mountain Thyme
Brent M. Holl:
Beatin' Path Consort Collection I and II
Episode Four
Resourceful Resources for Upper Elementary and Middle School
As with Pre-K and Lower Elementary materials, there is a wealth of options out there for us to use in our classrooms. The key is understanding what works best for your students and often times that comes from trying materials with them!
Important things to know about upper elementary and middle school students:
1) They like to talk. A lot.
Use this to your benefit! Make time for talking with peers about the information they are learning. Allow for composition in partners or small groups. Help them work out snags and to listen to each other. Their talking doesn't have to be frustrating - allowing them to discuss, work together and utilizing time for interaction is very helpful for them and brings the stress level down for you.
2) They are going through a great season of change
Everything is changing in massive ways between the ages of 10-15. Physically, mentally, emotionally, socially. It's a lot for them to take in and sometimes they don't know how to handle it all. They are greatly impacted by their friends and their own opinion of themselves. Be their encourager and be patient while also expecting them to meet high expectations. They may not show it on the outside, but they like boundaries. They like structure. And they care - even if their facial expressions or words don't say that they do. They really do care. We have a great responsibility to help them through this time and allow them to see that our music classrooms are a safe and predictable place where they can learn and grow.
3) They need to move
Older students need movement as much as younger students. Have you ever seen them on a rainy day during indoor recess? They get squirrelly too. They aren't as in-tune to their limbs because many of them have grown so much. Regardless of how awkward their movements are, it is important for them to move and to feel safe doing so without fear of being made fun of. Make time for movement in the classroom.
4) They're still young
Older students still love games. They love competitions. They thrive on proving that they can do difficult things. Build in activities to lessons for 'fun' activities every once in a while and always let students know that you believe they can learn and perform musical pieces when they are challenging. Then help them get there.
Here are some of my favorite materials for upper elementary and middle school students.
MOVEMENT
Folk Dance Music
New England Dance MastersSanna Longden
Shenanigans
Books
Brent Gault and Carlos Abril:
Teaching General Music
Marla Butke and David Frego:
Meaningful Movement: A Music Teacher's Guide to Dalcroze Eurythmics
Body Percussion
Gunild Keetman and Carl Orff:
Music for Children Volume I
Rhythmische Ubüng
DRUMMING
Chris Judah-Lauder:Drumming with a Passion
Canya Conga
To Drum
Hand Drums on the Move
Bill Matthews:
Conga Joy (side note: scroll down quite a ways to find the New Conga Joy book)
BARRED INSTRUMENTS
Walt Hampton:Marimba Mojo
Hot Marimba
Son of Hot Marimba
Steven Calintropio:
Pieces and Processes
Lessons in Elemental Style
DRUMS/BAR COMBOS
Paul Corbieré:Skins, Sticks and Bars
SINGING
Georgia Newlin:One Accord
Octavos by Jay Broeker:
Cedar Swamp
Hold On
Banjo Sam
Wild Mountain Thyme
RECORDERS
Beatin' Path Consort Collection I and II
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