Teaching can become fairly monotonous, and we can easily get stuck in our ways. Sometimes the thing we need to do is Try Something New.
As Music Teachers we can get used to the yearly calendar of events and the same weekly timetable of rehearsals. Lessons can often become repetitive if we don’t innovate and we can easily resort to the same approaches to delivery.
I am calling on you today to think about something new that you can try.
Why?
Hopefully you will understand that when we try something new we also learn something new. As teachers we can either do the same thing day in day out, or we can mix things up and give new things a try. Sometimes new techniques, ideas or ctiviteis don’t go well, but we can alsways learn from these moments.
But we also have to think about our students. When we bring new innovations into our classrooms the students are the ones who will benefit. Students are often more engaged with we try something new, and they enjoy the challenge of learning in a fresh way.
If you are feeling like you want to mix things up a bit, or just experiment with your teaching, then I urge you to try something new.
What?
So what do I mean when I say try something new? I guess there are a number of things I am thinking about:
- Try a new approach, technique or strategy in your own teaching.
- Organise your lesson differently.
- Bring something fresh to your extra-curricular offering.
Try Something New
Here are a few things you might like to try. They have worked well for me and I am always looking for new ideas. As this is a 10 Minute CPD read I won’t list too many, get in touch if you need more ideas!
- Read some books on pedagogy to get some new ideas.
- Try starting lessons with listening as students enter to get them engaged!
- Start a new ensemble that is open to anyone – I found Chair Drumming was quite fun!
- Encourage students to start their own club, society or group at lunchtime or after school.
- Use Retrieval Practise at the start of GCSE lessons – Microsoft Forms is helpful for this.
- Sign up to Focus on Sound Pro and start setting homework online. Students love it and it is easy to setup and use.
- Use a Do It Now task at the start of every lesson.
- Try out a new composition project. Check out I can compose for loads of ideas.
- Read the book “Generative Learning in Action” and then try using some new approaches for A-Level.
- Sign up for a Music Department Twitter and/or Instagram Account! Or go for a personal one and follow other teachers.
- Why not join Music Teachers Association and get plugged in to a network of music teachers.
- Buy as Loop pedal for your department and start using it for interactive singing & music creation.
So find a blank page and start planning something new! And let me know how you get on!
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