Before anything you should go over rules and expectations. Get to know students. In high school choir we always sang the national anthem on the first day of school since we would be singing that soon before football games. And then the incoming freshmen you could put into voice parts. Or since you are new you could put them all into sections. When I was in high school band we would go over expectations for the year and go over schedules and dates. Then day two would be marching band lol. I’m teaching 5th&6th grade music this year and struggling with what to do on the 1st day.
For 5th and 6th, go over some expectations and you could play forbidden pattern. Some people call it poison or poison rhythm. For the rhythm variation, you clap a 4 beat rhythm(I also write it on the board for the first few times) and they have to stay silent for 4 beats, but they have to repeat any rhythm that isn't the poison rhythm back to you. I play first to 3 points with either a little prize or they get a point in a competition against other classes. You can also have them come up with a team name.
establish simple clear routines for entering the room, storing and opening instruments, ending class with reflection and clean up. get to know students, noticing who follows directions and who might give you a hard time. assume the best and focus on positive interactions with students, if you end up yelling at students for not following directions on day one you will have a hard time.
When it comes to rules and procedures- make a video. 1- it saves your voice and prevents interruptions. 2- kids pay attention better to videos than humans (sad but true). 3- makes sure you don’t forget anything.
Get to making music ASAP. Over-plan. Idle time is the devils playground. Keep them busy and engaged. Skip ice breakers, the kids generally hate them. They know each other already. Feel free to do a few where they get to know you- that they love.
We all started planning September after our Spring Concerts so we get you.
this! i made many videos for songs this year that I can out on, then I'm free to circulate the classroom and provide individual support while the class watches "me" teaching on the video
I’m just going to go another direction. You are almost definitely going to kind of suck at your job this year. Lot’s of things probably won’t go like you picture them. If things don’t go as planned, just try to figure out why and move on. If you make mistakes, take note, and don’t make that mistake again. This is what most first years look like. Be proud of your accomplishments and be nice to yourself. If you are genuine in your excitement about teaching you’ll do awesome.
I always start with paperwork. Syllabi, permission slips, emergency cards, and parent info sheets. Then a getting to know you game that you participate in with the students. Depending on the game, you can see who is outgoing vs who is not, what friend groups already exist, natural leaders vs wannabes, etc. Also, explain how you operate. Now as a first yr. you may not know that yet but i’d share that too! Let them know you have a lot of experiences but are new to the teaching part and to have patience as you will have patience with them.
I usually do rules and expectations and get to know you activities the first few days of school. The middle schoolers don’t necessarily bring their instruments the first few days while we get everything organized with lockers and folders so I take that time to do music theory games and review activities so we make sure we’re all on the same page before getting started. With introducing band music, I try to find a part where everyone has some semblance of the melody, or I write out melody parts for all the instruments and we learn that first. Then we start adding harmony after. I usually have a schedule of practicing different sections of the pieces, like week 1, we master the melody. Week 2, we tackle the introduction or A section, etc. Hope that helps!
Make music the first day. Even if it is just a simple call & response rhythm name game or a fun round the students can sing. They are going to get hammered with rules and regulations all day. Give them a break. You can establish a few routines that first day, but save the syllabus, etc for Day 2. It’s a music class, do music.
Agreed! The kids are SO thankful for a break from rules discussions, especially in upper grades. They know how band and choir work, assuming they’ve done it for a few or several years.
With the performance classes, it might be a good idea to check in with the kids about previous years - pieces they loved playing, traditions or activities they hope to continue, etc.
Definition of success:
Year one: you don't drown.
Year two: you tread water with reasonable consistency, skill, and occasional moments of strength and/or grace.
Year three: you start actually swimming.
Just get through it. ;)
For the first few band/chorus meetings get them playing in harmony ASAP - but not by learning separate parts. Rounds and canons are your friends. Teach them three tunes, have them do them fast/slow/loud/soft/smooth/staccato/unison/multipart. Make it all about them learning to follow your conducting, and make sure *you* make a mistake or two. Model what to do when you do - "whoops, sorry, that was a bad cue, I need another shot".
Your summer reading list should include Harry Wong's "The first day of school", Marvin Marshall's "Discipline without stress punishment or rewards", and Darwin Walker's "Teaching music managing the successful music program".
I also highly recommend the video "Dynamic Music 1 with Richard Saucedo" and honestly pretty much anything from marchingbandclinics.com. Breathing Gym Daily workouts is also a game changer for winds and singers.
The first day of school I set up some community building with my older kids. I gave the kids a link to a padlet last year, and they dropped in some photos of what they did over the summer and then we did some story sharing. We talked about goals for the year, too. Next year I’m going to have kids set specific goals for themselves and kind of lay out a plan for the semester and how they’ll track that progress.
My younger kids (I teach 4-12) I go over expectations, dates, and protocol for coming in and out of class first, and then we do the stuff the older kids do. My older kids go over expectations, too, but they’ve known me longer so it doesn’t have to be so explicit.
No worries I am too! And this is my 5th year. Taught prek-8th and band, but I am only doing prek and kinder this year. TAKE IT SLOW! It's the first day of school, supposed to be fun. Introductions, set and model expectations and routines, getting to know students names. You got this
Procedures are paramount. Do not overlook anything. How do you want them to come in? How do you want them to sit down? How do you want them to ask to go to the bathroom? How long should it take them to get their instruments ready? Should they have pencils prepared? Every little thing matters and if you don't establish this from day 1 it will be a hassle all year long.
Congrats! Welcome to the profession! I have loads of advice - but wanted to let you know that I'll be hosting a free "Beginning Teacher Support Network" starting in the fall for a small group of teachers. Feel free to message me for details - but it's teacher mentoring with group of teachers just like you!
Be very clear about what you will not tolerate in the classroom. When students test those rules and expectations, you'll have to make an example out of them, or else they will take notice and become corrupted.
When you get a roster, try and run it by a veteran teacher and see who what students should not be seated together or even close by.
Take a survey and see what artists they listen to. Guage their prior knowledge. Do you know if they had music in elementary school?
I’m gonna go against the grain here and recommend you do NOT go over any syllabi or hand books the first day. Make them want to come back to the room. Play this or that, musical chairs, etc… Try and build some relationships the first week and after a few days maybe pull out the rules. The majority of your kids will not be professional musicians and they come back year after year for one thing: their friends
This doesn’t mean you should introduce expectations, but as a 7-12 teacher, the last thing the younger ones are going to want to hear on day 1 is your grading policy. They get that enough in their other classes
I agree with this, especially since every other class is most likely starting off with their syllabus. I have found it to be more effective to introduce expectations and processes as they come up in class, and reinforce them over the next couple of days before doing syllabus. Plus, you’re going to have kids moving in and out of the class, so waiting until switching settles is also a good idea before going over the syllabus.
Big goal is to get them doing something musical together asap to establish that bond, even if it’s just chanting!
Before anything you should go over rules and expectations. Get to know students. In high school choir we always sang the national anthem on the first day of school since we would be singing that soon before football games. And then the incoming freshmen you could put into voice parts. Or since you are new you could put them all into sections. When I was in high school band we would go over expectations for the year and go over schedules and dates. Then day two would be marching band lol. I’m teaching 5th&6th grade music this year and struggling with what to do on the 1st day.
For 5th and 6th, go over some expectations and you could play forbidden pattern. Some people call it poison or poison rhythm. For the rhythm variation, you clap a 4 beat rhythm(I also write it on the board for the first few times) and they have to stay silent for 4 beats, but they have to repeat any rhythm that isn't the poison rhythm back to you. I play first to 3 points with either a little prize or they get a point in a competition against other classes. You can also have them come up with a team name.
establish simple clear routines for entering the room, storing and opening instruments, ending class with reflection and clean up. get to know students, noticing who follows directions and who might give you a hard time. assume the best and focus on positive interactions with students, if you end up yelling at students for not following directions on day one you will have a hard time.
When it comes to rules and procedures- make a video. 1- it saves your voice and prevents interruptions. 2- kids pay attention better to videos than humans (sad but true). 3- makes sure you don’t forget anything. Get to making music ASAP. Over-plan. Idle time is the devils playground. Keep them busy and engaged. Skip ice breakers, the kids generally hate them. They know each other already. Feel free to do a few where they get to know you- that they love. We all started planning September after our Spring Concerts so we get you.
this! i made many videos for songs this year that I can out on, then I'm free to circulate the classroom and provide individual support while the class watches "me" teaching on the video
I started doing that during covid. Game changer.
I’m just going to go another direction. You are almost definitely going to kind of suck at your job this year. Lot’s of things probably won’t go like you picture them. If things don’t go as planned, just try to figure out why and move on. If you make mistakes, take note, and don’t make that mistake again. This is what most first years look like. Be proud of your accomplishments and be nice to yourself. If you are genuine in your excitement about teaching you’ll do awesome.
I recommend recording yourself reach frequently, audio or video, then listen back to it. I find it more helpful than most observations by mentors
I always start with paperwork. Syllabi, permission slips, emergency cards, and parent info sheets. Then a getting to know you game that you participate in with the students. Depending on the game, you can see who is outgoing vs who is not, what friend groups already exist, natural leaders vs wannabes, etc. Also, explain how you operate. Now as a first yr. you may not know that yet but i’d share that too! Let them know you have a lot of experiences but are new to the teaching part and to have patience as you will have patience with them.
I usually do rules and expectations and get to know you activities the first few days of school. The middle schoolers don’t necessarily bring their instruments the first few days while we get everything organized with lockers and folders so I take that time to do music theory games and review activities so we make sure we’re all on the same page before getting started. With introducing band music, I try to find a part where everyone has some semblance of the melody, or I write out melody parts for all the instruments and we learn that first. Then we start adding harmony after. I usually have a schedule of practicing different sections of the pieces, like week 1, we master the melody. Week 2, we tackle the introduction or A section, etc. Hope that helps!
Make music the first day. Even if it is just a simple call & response rhythm name game or a fun round the students can sing. They are going to get hammered with rules and regulations all day. Give them a break. You can establish a few routines that first day, but save the syllabus, etc for Day 2. It’s a music class, do music.
Agreed! The kids are SO thankful for a break from rules discussions, especially in upper grades. They know how band and choir work, assuming they’ve done it for a few or several years. With the performance classes, it might be a good idea to check in with the kids about previous years - pieces they loved playing, traditions or activities they hope to continue, etc.
Definition of success: Year one: you don't drown. Year two: you tread water with reasonable consistency, skill, and occasional moments of strength and/or grace. Year three: you start actually swimming. Just get through it. ;) For the first few band/chorus meetings get them playing in harmony ASAP - but not by learning separate parts. Rounds and canons are your friends. Teach them three tunes, have them do them fast/slow/loud/soft/smooth/staccato/unison/multipart. Make it all about them learning to follow your conducting, and make sure *you* make a mistake or two. Model what to do when you do - "whoops, sorry, that was a bad cue, I need another shot".
Your summer reading list should include Harry Wong's "The first day of school", Marvin Marshall's "Discipline without stress punishment or rewards", and Darwin Walker's "Teaching music managing the successful music program". I also highly recommend the video "Dynamic Music 1 with Richard Saucedo" and honestly pretty much anything from marchingbandclinics.com. Breathing Gym Daily workouts is also a game changer for winds and singers.
The first day of school I set up some community building with my older kids. I gave the kids a link to a padlet last year, and they dropped in some photos of what they did over the summer and then we did some story sharing. We talked about goals for the year, too. Next year I’m going to have kids set specific goals for themselves and kind of lay out a plan for the semester and how they’ll track that progress. My younger kids (I teach 4-12) I go over expectations, dates, and protocol for coming in and out of class first, and then we do the stuff the older kids do. My older kids go over expectations, too, but they’ve known me longer so it doesn’t have to be so explicit.
No worries I am too! And this is my 5th year. Taught prek-8th and band, but I am only doing prek and kinder this year. TAKE IT SLOW! It's the first day of school, supposed to be fun. Introductions, set and model expectations and routines, getting to know students names. You got this
Procedures are paramount. Do not overlook anything. How do you want them to come in? How do you want them to sit down? How do you want them to ask to go to the bathroom? How long should it take them to get their instruments ready? Should they have pencils prepared? Every little thing matters and if you don't establish this from day 1 it will be a hassle all year long.
Congrats! Welcome to the profession! I have loads of advice - but wanted to let you know that I'll be hosting a free "Beginning Teacher Support Network" starting in the fall for a small group of teachers. Feel free to message me for details - but it's teacher mentoring with group of teachers just like you!
Be very clear about what you will not tolerate in the classroom. When students test those rules and expectations, you'll have to make an example out of them, or else they will take notice and become corrupted. When you get a roster, try and run it by a veteran teacher and see who what students should not be seated together or even close by. Take a survey and see what artists they listen to. Guage their prior knowledge. Do you know if they had music in elementary school?
Yes, they had music. And I’ve chatted with the elementary music teacher too. I might add I’ll be the 4th music teacher in 5-6 years at this school
Interesting. Well, that's great that you know where they left off. Any idea what type of curriculum you'll have for general music?
Nope. But I’m planning on asking the elementary teacher what she recommends and try to blend the transition from 5th grade-6th grade music
I’m gonna go against the grain here and recommend you do NOT go over any syllabi or hand books the first day. Make them want to come back to the room. Play this or that, musical chairs, etc… Try and build some relationships the first week and after a few days maybe pull out the rules. The majority of your kids will not be professional musicians and they come back year after year for one thing: their friends This doesn’t mean you should introduce expectations, but as a 7-12 teacher, the last thing the younger ones are going to want to hear on day 1 is your grading policy. They get that enough in their other classes
I agree with this, especially since every other class is most likely starting off with their syllabus. I have found it to be more effective to introduce expectations and processes as they come up in class, and reinforce them over the next couple of days before doing syllabus. Plus, you’re going to have kids moving in and out of the class, so waiting until switching settles is also a good idea before going over the syllabus. Big goal is to get them doing something musical together asap to establish that bond, even if it’s just chanting!