It seems there is always a concert to prepare for when you teach music. Fall concerts, Veteran’s Day, holiday and winter shows, grade level shows, PTA performances, spring shows, and more. It can be easy to get caught up in endless rehearsals, using concert music to teach concepts (if you even take the time) and making learning the music the priority over everything else. And it’s easy to fall into that trap when our own educational experiences in college had a similar message. But there is more to life than concerts. Here are some things we can do to remind ourselves that music is not just about the performance.

Creative Time

Number one, music is creative. It’s important to let your students have time to be creative every time they come in your room. Even if you are in the dredges of rehearsals, make sure you let them have a chance to create even for 5 minutes with a friend. Create a new body percussion to teach someone else. Write a pattern on boomwhackers to share. Create a rhythmic pattern about your favorite foods. Create a free movement experience to a listening selection.

Here a few posts that might help you get your creative juices flowing on short creative moments:

If you are looking for some easy print and go creative moments, here are some composing files for any time of year.

Songs and Games

Music is about JOY. During the pandemic we lost a lot of joy with restrictions on playing and singing. Now that we have it back, it can almost be easy to forget that loss. When we do nothing but rehearse for performances we run into losing that joy.

Here’s some games that can help bring in some joy. You’ll find passing games, games for outside, games to work on concepts like reading/decoding, and more.

Collaboration

Music is about community. Taking time to allow collaboration will help your students feel that sense of community while they rehearse. Let them create together, have moments to share ideas, and to experiment with music. This could be a great place to include responding to music. Giving students a chance to respond to other performances of their concert music, each others’ practice, or even half the class watches the other half, we can let them respond, learn how to help rehearse, and give them a chance to learn from each other.

Books and Listening

It’s so important to take time to let their brains internalize what they are learning. Giving time at the end of class to focus on a musician or to read a musical story is a great way to get them settled, and give them a mental break.

Here are some resources for books and listening:

Permission

Even the best musicians have things that go ‘wrong’. Things can go awry. We all know the adage that a terrible rehearsal means a great performance. And sometimes the opposite is true. But it’s ok. Music isn’t perfect. No matter your ‘method’, music involves making noise and experimentation. It’s messy, loud, and full of mistakes that make us better for having made them. We know performances aren’t perfect so remind yourself it’s OK to step away. I’m giving myself permission to sacrifice “perfection” for progress and joyful music making even though it’s hard to tell myself that.

I hope this has given you some ideas to step away from rehearsals.

Melissa Stouffer-1

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