5/23/2022
Topic:
Students with Disabilities
Matthew Seeman
|
When I was teaching high school band and chorus, I had two students (one in each ensemble) who were bound by a wheelchair. The initial differentiation was quite simple: The chorus member was placed in the front row, and the band member opted to play xylophone/glockenspiel. While most of the differentiations were physical (placement during small group instruction, etc.), I was extremely proud with the social benefit that came to including these students with a group of incredibly open-minded and inclusive students. This ultimately became a multi-tiered support system that included small group work, individual teacher-to-student tutoring, and individual student-to-student tutoring. Music tends to be a subject that accepts all - this experience shed light on music's ability to bring out a similar social aspect of inclusion that we all are capable of. |
5/23/2022
Topic:
Tools and Strategies
Matthew Seeman
|
Option 2:
One strategy that is often utilized when teaching music is task analysis. When learning to play music from standard music notation, there are many aspects that can be broken down into different tasks. Identifying/clapping the rhythm, naming the notes, naming each note’s placement on the guitar, ‘chunking’ the music into smaller sections, etc.
Mnemonic instruction is particularly helpful for learning to read music, as well as learning some aspects of music theory. Mnemonic devices are traditionally used to teach reading notes on the staff. Mnemonic devices can also be used to teach string names, key signatures, and scale degrees. |
5/23/2022
Topic:
Assessment of Learning
Matthew Seeman
|
In a traditional chorus classroom, many of the activities are done as 'whole group' activities. This is an effective form of pre-assessment as well as ongoing assessment for students with learning disabilities. Often times simply observing whole group activities, such as following a pre-written warm up, completing a technique-based exercise, sight singing, or even simply rehearsing music will illuminate precise areas of knowledge/skill and even the degree of a student's readiness or progress. |