30 screaming kids

[ludwig]

 I started to teach a music class recently, this is within a secondary/high school, the teachers there tells me that it isn't a particularly rough school, but some of the classes I get are pretty loud. This is due to the discipline, or should I say the lack of discipline from previous teachers. Any ideas on how to solve this problem? They are all keen students though, they like music, its just hard to get them started to think about music. Any thoughts?

[Mandy]

What exactly are you expected to teach them-and how long will you be in the classroom?  

I thought since these are high school kids, and provided you are there for a while, you could get the kids to write a musical.  If you need to teach them specific historical facts about music, you could centre the story around that.  They could compose the script and the music, and could learn the theoretical side through the composition.  This could also be incorporated into their homework--ex: every student has to write a 30 bar piece in the key of G major, set to the words (already given to them), about a historical fact (beethoven being deaf).........something like that.....if you don't have to worry about specific historical aspects, they could make up whatever they wanted, or get them to compose a song in the style of N'sync ( maybe not such a great example, but it was the only teaniebopper group that came to mind!)

I've always found that composition if popular with highschool students.  Also, if the musical is not a practical idea, i.e. you don't have tiem or the resources, you could get them to make a book to put in the library.  If there are kids who don't want to write the story or the music, perhaps they could draw the pictures?  They would still be learning all of the concepts, just in a different way.  Teenagers are incredibly creative and have a ton of energy, you just need to channel it in the right way and they will do great things!

Best of luck, and let us know how it goes!
Mandy

[ludwig]

You see that's the problem, i'm not teaching for long. I can't give them big assignments.. having said that, I've already thought of some music games and concepts to do. But I think everyone's expectations of their ability is way beyound reality, it is pretty basic. I can't get them to write something because notation haven't been fully introduced, i've gotta do simple baby stuff so to speak. But i think i'm coping well, and having fun, this is student practical at a high school. I am however having difficulty with discipline though, :/ oh well, I'll just have to teach them to behave, but i don't want them to not like me, so i don't scream or raise my voice, so my assistant teacher keeps on telling me to be firm and more "scary." oh well, everything else's going good. thanks for the concern I'm having fun and learning stuff (oh my gosh), that's what matters.

[george]

hi...i'm new to this forum and my answer to the problem with disicipline is to plan.... plan..... plan....with one concept be creative with at least 4 different activities
unless you are doing a project.....also we all learn differently so include different learning styles with your plans  good luck....george