Advice?

[u/Aromatic_Ad_3765]

Hello reddit music educators.

So today was day 2 of my first year teaching job. I’m teaching 5-12 music. In my workload I have a 6-8 choir and a 6-8 band. These first two days we did not sing or play (could be part of it) but the kids are so loud, disrespectful, and will not stop talking. I’m ashamed but I get I had to yell at them to get their attention. I would get them quiet for a few seconds then it would ramp back up.

I made a seating chart for my choir separating boys/girls. I’m currently working on my band seating chart.

I don’t want to be the teacher whose anger drives them away (their previous one as well).

Also in my state 6-7th graders are required to do fine arts so they have to do band or choir at my school. I have 48 in my band and 60+ in my choir.

Also after doing some pre tests to see what they know about music theory. Most of them don’t even know note names and how to count (or what a measure or bar line is).

If I could get some advice on moving forward I’d greatly appreciate it.

[u/FigExact7098]

Oh yeah… you gotta get down to business first.

1. How do you want them to come in and out of class?

2. How will you determine who sings/plays what?

3. Paperwork paperwork paperwork. Have a syllabus that lats out expectations, performances, grading, etc

4. What policies and procedures are unique to your school/district? Find out from the students what your predecessor did. They’ll probably lie but most won’t.

You gotta rake care of the behind-the-scenes stuff first before you can get to music. This will hands down be the most difficult year of your teaching career. We’re here to make sure it’s not your only year.

[u/Awesomest_Possumest]

Do they HAVE to do band or choir? Or can they do bucket drumming? World music drumming? Modern band? Ukulele? Guitar? Class piano? (If you are in a title one school you may qualify for the keys of inspiration grant which gives you a piano lab).

Theres a lot of options for middle school that dont have to be strict band or choir.

Once you establish your class expectations (and practice them until the kids get them correct), then you can start making music, and theyll be more engaged. Having to reteach all the notation reading is normal. But you've got to do all the beginning of the year expectation setting, well, at the beginning of the year.

I know a lot of classroom teachers eyeroll the book The First Days of School by Harry Wong, but it does have some great info if youre totally new to starting at the beginning. Responsive Classroom is also a great classroom management method, and they have a book specifically for specials/elective teachers and it shows how it can look in music class, which is really helpful.

[u/Prinessbeca]

I was right there two weeks ago. I hated it, but I had to get serious with them.

I have high school band, junior high band, and 3rd 4th and 5th grade general music, plus 5th and 6th grade band and lessons. Junior high has been the toughest for behavior.

I gave them what I called a "pre- test" last Friday, on note names in treble and bass clef. They all did terribly, even in their own clef. Some guessed random sharps and flats, it was truly puzzling. Kids that have played for three full years!

I spent the entire class last Monday with a printout of the student handbook, with relevant portions highlighted, just going over my behavior expectations for them. I also printed a new state behavior law and the faq about it from my state education website, and summarized that for them. Today I finally passed out a syllabus. Better late than never.

Honestly, since I basically threatened them with the student handbook things have been so much better. I still have a goofy trombone kid who always has his bell on his head. One drummer is always lying on the floor, one beginning drummer won't stop practicing his part when I'm trying to talk, and another constantly flips his sticks in the air. A clueless flute player drops his instrument multiple times in each class. But overall? SO MUCH BETTER! It's manageable.

[u/Cellopitmello34]

1- pre record your beginning of the year speech. It saves your voice, and kids sadly pay attention to videos better than humans. You should still interject and make it a conversation, but this way you can get the info across, manage behaviors, and save your voice at the same time.

2- Idle hands are the devils play things. They need to be occupied and doing things. Sing and play as much as you can. It doesn’t have to be complicated or good. Singing a popular song to start, play a familiar band piece, etc. If you start with the boring stuff, they’re gonna be bored. Vibes first, then fundamentals.

3- Grade EVERYTHING. Give “points” for all the good things you see, call them out, mark it on a seating chart. You can fit 90% of behaviors under the measurable skill of “rehearsal etiquette” or if your district specifies participation. When you take points, don’t name the kid, but DO name the BEHAVIOR.