Teaching students how to tune

 

I've re-vamped all my lessons about teaching students how to tune.  I wanted to use NearPod and make the experience more interactive.  I made 3 lessons using google slides and incorporated them into NearPod with websites for students to explore, games to practice adjusting pitch, and quizzes to check for understanding.  

I think it's important to establish some pre-tuning skills before students actually get to tune their own instruments.  These skills include understanding what 'in-tune' and 'out of tune' means, how to adjust pitch, and how to use pegs/fine tuners.  Here are snapshots of the lessons I prepared...you can use them at Nearpod:

Lesson 1:  Exploring Pitch:  https://share.nearpod.com/e/oFRUWV95edb

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this game!  It's at https://trainer.thetamusic.com/en/content/html5-dango-brothers    It's GREAT practice for studetnts to learn to adjust pitch to be 'in-tune.'  Students enjoyed practicing using this game. 

Lesson 2:  Pegs and Fine Tuners:  https://share.nearpod.com/e/8FStsce6edb

Lesson 3:  Rules of tuning:  https://share.nearpod.com/e/59eUmMf6edb   (the videos don't work in this lesson...I don't use them.  It was created in google slides...and I didn't really need the videos when I presented this to my class.  Videos can be cut out and replaced with pictures.)

After lesson 3 I help students tune themselves for the first time using my tuning procedure. It worked great - and no broken strings!

The path to greatness - music selection grid and taking ownership

 

I've been thinking a lot about the different playing abilities in my classes.  I realize all students learn at different rates.  Students come with varying backgrounds, opportunities, and skills.   All students have different needs and desires in their quest to learn their instruments.  I don't have an audition group, so my students are lumped together by grade.  I choose challenging music and help the class learn it together.  But I want them to learn it better and faster...and that takes some student accountability.  Much of the variance in abilities can be minimized if all students are taking ownership doing their part to achieve greatness.  

Term 3 jus started.  I have a concert in 5 weeks.  Students chose the music for this concert....and I really love how that went!  I normally like to maintain control over the repertoire, but a few weeks ago I did a Music Selection assignment with my classes where I chose 12-14 pieces and had students listen (and view the music at JWPepper if there was preview) and take a few notes about each piece.  Students then used google form to vote of their top 4 choices.  

Here's a sample of the form I used (students typed directly in the form using Canvas.)

My class didn't pick the pieces I expected they would pick.  We started worked on the new music a couple weeks ago and it has been a blast!  Students are motivated and they're working extra hard because they really WANT to get it.  Often at the end of class I hear the best words ever...."That was so FUN!"  Allowing students to have ownership for what they are learning has helped them progress more easily.

Now I'd like to help my students take on even more ownership and accountability in their own playing.  I'm still hashing out the details.  Maybe I'll have them make goals then record their progress using FlipGrid.  But it's all going to start with this poster....  Too many students settle for progressing at walking pace.  It's time to drive.  I want these students cruising.  You can access and edit this poster for your own classroom at Canva.com:   https://www.canva.com/design/DAETgkvKjhU/jwqEq4U__ME9AhFF6QSsEw/view?utm_content=DAETgkvKjhU&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=sharebutton&mode=preview