Music in Education.....Things to think about

1.  How do you use music in YOUR life?  I don’t use music to help me study or remember certain things so I just use it to listen to and to sing along with when I get bored. 

2. What musical activities and interests did you have as a child?  When I was younger I had a lot of fun playing with anything percussion related.  I like the maracas and drums, anything that I could make noise and keep a beat with. 

3.  Have you observed children at musical play?  Yes, in high school I was a student aid and I would take the kids to music class.  Sometimes I would sit in a class with them.  Also I got to join a few classes during my field experience time with a fourth grade classroom. 

4.  Are there some musical skills you are able to teach to children more easily than others?  I could show children how to keep a steady beat and rhythm, but I am not able to read music so I would not be able to teach them what the actual notes look like.   

5.  What do you think that all children should be able to do, musically, as a result of a MUSICAL education?  Students should be able to keep a steady beat and possibly make up a song on their own to a tune of an already well known song. 

6.  Have you ever observed a teacher integrating music into the classroom?  Cite examples.  Yes, the first graders at Osmond sing the national anthem every morning.  The children also sing songs during subjects such as math.  I have not seen it in the classroom yet but I recently came across a poem to help with long division that could be sung to the students. 

7.  How do you think music can be integrated into the elementary classroom?  I think music could be integrated while students play games, while reading, and even during every day classroom homework. 

8.  How do you think music can be used as an interdisciplinary tool in the elementary classroom?  I think when children are being loud you should give them certain noises to make quietly.  Once everyone is copying you, then you know they are all paying attention and listening.