Week 7 Journal

This week we really focused on studying for our test. The hardest part was remembering what characteristics and abilities were common for each grade level. I made sure to read and re-read those sections so I would know them for the test. The easiest part for me were the questions dealing with reading the music and the questions on the recorder fingering. I already knew how to read music before starting this class so I didn't study that as much. The recorder fingering was easy because there weren't that many letters and all of the practicing helped ingrain it in memory.

So far this semester we have learned a lot. We learned about melody, rhythm, steady beat, articulation, and dynamics. We have also learned how to play C, D, G, A, and B on the recorder, as well as how to play Hot Cross Buns. We learned how to write up a lesson plan and how to teach it to a class. We learned, or reviewed, how to read a treble clef staff, including the treble clef, time signature, and the notes. We learned C major and G major scale on the staff as well as on the piano. We learned what whole steps and half steps are. We learned about whole, half, quarter, eighth, and sixteenth notes and rests. We learned about sharp notes, such as F sharp.

Week 6 Journal

Self-evaluation (this is of my second time teaching):

Musicianship: 4 points, I think I had an accurate rhythm and appropriate tempo, as wells appropriate phrasing and expression. My tune and pitch could possibly have been better

Leadership: 6 points, I think my voice tone and volume were appropriate and that my body language and facial expressions were fine. However I probably could have made more eye contact and have had more energy.

Preparation: 14 points. I knew the lesson plan that I had written out and turned in. I had all of the appropriate materials. I knew all the words to my song, however I could have known it a little better.

Delivery of Instruction: 19 points. I think that I did a good job in capturing the classes attention. The steps seemed as though they were in a good order and that the instructions were understood. The pace seemed slow enough for them to follow along and I listened to the feedback of the class. However, there could have been more questions.

Total: 43


The hardest part about the presentation was actually presenting it. I knew the song really well, but I got nervous in front of the class and so that made me mess up. However, it was a lot easier the second time I had to perform it because I was less nervous and I feel I did a lot better job. I think I taught the dance pretty well, everyone seemed to do a good job at it. Since I was given a second chance I know that I was able to be less nervous and so I messed up less. There were certain parts of the lesson that I fine tuned when I saw that they didn't go so well the first time.

Week 5 Journal

This week we learned about the note D on the recorder. We also learned about half steps and sharps. Additionally, we continued to work on our lesson plans. We were taught about Zoltan Kodaly and solfege, as well as music duration.

In order to learn the note D we were taught how to play it on the recorder. We practiced a song that contained D notes. To learn about half steps and sharps we were shown diagrams of where they would fall on the staff and on a piano. We went over our lesson plans in groups that ranged from those that were good at writing lesson plans to those that needed help. We worked on them and discussed them as a group in order to get someone else's help and perspective. To learn about Kodaly, solfege, and music duration we read a packet about them and we practiced the solfege and music duration.

It is important that we know the D note because you cannot play many songs without it. The same goes for knowing about half steps and sharp notes. Solfege and music duration also help you to better understand music. It is important to learn about lesson plans because they are vital to becoming a teacher. You cannot successfully teach a class unless you are able to make lesson plans.

It is important for children to learn these skills and concepts because it helps them to understand music better. These concepts and skills enable children to play music and to help practice what they already know about music.

Week 4 Journal

This week we continued learning about rhythm and steady beat. We also learned the note C, which we then practiced on the recorder. Another skill we practiced was dancing or coordination.

To continue our learning on steady beat we sang Bow Wow Wow. We also learned Tideo. For this we learned a dance to go along with the song that helped us practice steady beat. This dance also made us practice our coordination. For the C note, we learned how to play a few new songs on the recorder. To help practice the old notes (B, A, and G) we played songs we already knew, Hot Cross Buns, plus a few new ones.

It is important for children to really understand rhythm because it is very important in music. So practicing steady beat and rhythm a lot if essential. It is also good that only a few notes are learned at a time. This gives the children ample time to memorize them and makes sure they don't get different notes confused. The dance moves to Tideo are good for children because they help them understand the steady beat. It also allows them to work on their coordination.

This week we also learned about writing a lesson plan. We learned what skills, concepts, and objectives are appropriate. We also talked about how the procedure should be. This is important because all teachers need lesson plans. This is going to be a big part of our lives while we teach and so we must learn to do it well.