Elemental Conversations with Victoria Boler

We’ve all been there. What’s the balance between preparing for a concert, and “regular” teaching? What’s the connection between the two? And how can we structure next year so it’s breathable, joyful, and intentional? - Find the full show notes at https://victoriaboler.com/elemental-conversations   Let’s Connect:    Website  | Instagram  | YouTube   | Website | Plannin...

What might early experiences with melodic pedagogy look like? Before the expansive melodic vocabulary in upper elementary, how do young musical learners explore and actualize melodic ideas? What does it look like at the beginning of the learning process? And is there a way to make early melodic experiences intentional, musical, pedagogically sound, and joyful? That’s what we’ll explore today. Epis...

When we move in music, we actually need practice not bumping into each other! Physical awareness of our surroundings is one of those things that may seem obvious to us, but it’s actually a learned skill. Here are some concrete ways we can practice moving in open space, so that music class stays safe and fun for everyone. -  Find the full show notes at https://victoriaboler.com/elemental-conve...

What’s the relationship between recorders, barred instruments, the voice, and movement? How might we approach recorders as another tool in our melodic toolbelt?

There are assessments we learn about in teacher training…… and then there are actual assessment challenges we face in the real world. Let’s look at four teacher questions about assessment. We’ll talk about grading young musicians, the relationship between assessment and student motivation, how to assess active musical doings, and why we might rethink grading on effort. Let’s go!

When we have a distance between instructional times, we may notice that students don’t always retain information from class to class. What are some strategies we can use to help students reference back to their previous musical experiences so we can build skills sequentially? - Find the full show notes at https://victoriaboler.com/elemental-conversations   Let’s Connect:  Website | Insta...

When students are out of class, it can be tricky to know exactly how to plan lessons. How can we serve the students in the classroom while leaving space for the musicians who are absent? —— Find the full show notes at https://victoriaboler.com/elemental-conversations   Let’s Connect:    Website  | Instagram  | YouTube   | Website | Planning Binder

How can we use instruments to teach melody in a way that is integrated, not isolated? What does the process look like if we don’t have access to barred instruments? Today we’ll talk about the process of teaching melodic elements. We’ll look at what the learning progression looks like with and without instruments, and what to do if you sense students need to back up and review before moving forward...

Find the full show notes at https://victoriaboler.com/elemental-conversations   We can do a lot in a short amount of class time! Here are some ways to maximize the music experiences, even in 25 minutes.

The best composers in the world have never met your students! You and your choir members may be the most capable arrangers of your own choral music. Here are some simple ways to get started. - Find the full show notes at victoriaboler.com/podcast/arranging-repertoire-for-elementary-choir

Here are some ways to review and refresh your semester. We’ll talk about the importance of looking backwards to go forward with our review project. We’ll talk about the importance of knowledge transfer when we review, and the role that creative processes (improvisation / arranging) play. We’ll think about ways we can move students’ creative work outside the walls of the music classroom. Last, we’l...

Here’s one example of how we might organize resources for teaching 1st grade rhythm. We’ll use a concept plan, or a place we can document our goals, repertoire, and learning activities. When we have these resources in one place, lesson planning is more intentional and streamlined. You can find the full show notes here: victoriaboler.com/podcast/organizing-resources-to-teach-1st-grade-rhythm

“ One thing that I struggle with is the availability of too many resources! Any tips? I wind up feeling so guilty when I don’t get to a particular song or activity, but I can’t do it all…” The internet is a big place! That can make it overwhelming when we look for lesson ideas - how will we choose the most intentional lesson ideas, while keeping track of all the things we find interesting? Find th...

Here are some examples of how musical experiences can be threaded together across lessons. We’ll look at specific teaching activities for syncopa from The Planning Binder’s November monthly plan. _______ This is a quick “espresso shot” episode. My hope is that it’s an actionable teaching idea that applies some larger principles, and gives you some inspiration on your drive to work.  ________&...

In the last episode we talked about structuring the lesson around musical concepts, instead of activities. Let’s think about some ways to apply concept-based teaching with upper elementary and the rhythmic pattern, “synco-pa,” or ta-di—di. Syncopa (ta-di-di) songs: Bump Up Tomato Weevily Wheat Surfin’ U.S.A - Beach Boys Alabama Gal (or) Count On Me - Bruno Mars Find the show notes at victoriaboler...

Should we organize our lessons around activities or around musical concepts? There are pros and cons to both! Find the full show notes here: https://victoriaboler.com/elemental-conversations

Songs: Bell Horses Frosty Weather Passing Out Instruments: Students sit in a circle. As they sing the song and pat a steady beat, the teacher walks around the outside of the circle and places an instrument behind students’ backs. Collecting Instruments: Students stand and walk around in a circle while singing the song. As students move, the teacher walks around the circle and collects the instrume...

Zapatitos Blancos Speak the rhyme and play the game Add an ostinato - students come up with any combination of shoe / little When you’re out, choose if you’ll play the steady beat on a tubano or play the rhythm of the ostinato on rhythm sticks or other unpitched percussion Continue playing until the available instrument slots are taken

Find the full show notes here . Strategies for Sharing Instruments: - Choosing, elimination, guessing, or chasing games - Doubling up on instruments - Using instrument stations - “Pass it down”

Find the show notes here . Reports mentioned: Comparison of the National Standards for Music Education and Elementary Music Specialists' Use of Class Time (Orman, 2002) Self-Reported versus Observed Classroom Activities in Elementary General Music (Wang & Sogin, 1997) Perceptions of Time Spent in Teacher Talk: A Comparison Among Self-Estimates, Peer Estimates, and Actual Time (Nápoles & Vá...

This is a quick “espresso shot” episode. My hope is that it’s an actionable teaching idea that applies some larger principles, and gives you some inspiration on your drive to work. For my part, it keeps me thinking through many ideas and connections so I stay energized as well. _______ Main Rhyme: Engine engine number nine going down Chicago line See it sparkle, see it shine, engine engine number...

Find the show notes at victoriaboler.com/elemental-conversations ________  This is a quick “espresso shot” episode. My hope is that it’s an actionable teaching idea that applies some larger principles, and gives you some inspiration on your drive to work. For my part, it keeps me thinking through many ideas and connections so I stay energized as well.  _________ Rhyme: Engine Engine Numb...

Find episode notes here . _______ This is a quick “espresso shot” episode. My hope is that it’s an actionable teaching idea that applies some larger principles, and gives you some inspiration on your drive to work. For my part, it keeps me thinking through many ideas and connections so I stay energized as well. ______ Process: Sing the song and play the game (Recruiting interest / Optimize relevan...

Find the show notes here

Find the show notes here: https://victoriaboler.com/podcast/teaching-a-partwork-piece-on-orff-instruments