Animusic

My kids have been watching this over and over again tonight, as well as other clips from anmiusic.



I like this one because you can watch it in the same way that you watch real musicians, and you get lots of visual cues for the different parts in the music.

The one entitled Pipe Dreams is also mesmerising, and very clever.

Planet Music

Sorry for the long delay in posting - I have been on "Planet Music", otherwise known as the Autumn KMEIA NSW teacher training course. This was a week of intensive training in musicianship, conducting and teaching methods. It was extremely demanding but greatly worthwhile and wonderful. The teachers are always brilliant and I highly recommend the course for any music teachers in early childhood or primary school settings.

I am already accredited to teach young children, but I'm back this year to see what happens in early primary school - to see "where we're headed" with all the early childhood work.

Highlights of the course this time included:

• Meeting up with friends from all over the place who come together to study - this is the final year for many of us
• The opportunity to try out songs, games and dances for ourselves in the practicum classes
• Choir at the end of each day
• Ensemble work, and the notorious "sing and plays"
• Composing our own canons in musicianship
• A lecture from the beautiful Ms Jenone Nagy ("Insie") from the National Association of Hungarian Kindergarten Teachers.

Image: 'music rocks my world'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20005495@N00/61581047

Beat Lehmann workshop

This is awfully late notice (first session is happening ooh, right about now) but I promised my choir buddy Amanda last night that I'd put this up. Beat Lehmann is running workshops in acapella world music singing this weekend in Bondi Junction. You could still get to tomorrow's (Sunday's) session - details below:

- 10 am to 4 pm
- 61 Newland St Bondi Junction
- Cost for one day $70 ($125 both days)

For beginners and experienced singers, no music reading skills required. Beat Lehmann is an accomplished conductor from Queensland.

By the way, last night's concert was a blast.

What makes a great early childhood music teacher?

This is a bit presumptuous of me, but I reckon I have a few ideas about what makes a great children's music teacher. Bear in mind that this is just my opinion - a product of my experiences, both good and bad. I have taken my young children to half a dozen different music teachers over the years, so have a bit of experience. I am also studying the Kodaly approach, so I am looking at this through a Kodaly lens. I am not saying, however, that the only good teachers follow that approach.

So - here is my list of the characteristics of a great music teacher for young children (under 6). I might expand on some of these points in future posts.

• Likes the company of children
• Gets along with your child
• Loves music, and generates enthusiasm for music
  
• Great musicianship (can sing in tune, play an instrument, read music)
• Detailed understanding of child development
• Makes their own detailed lesson plans, but does not have a "script" that must be followed
• Has an overall plan for helping children to develop over the long term (7 years), with musical objectives and general developmental goals
• Limits the group size to levels appropriate for the age of the children
• Provides a varied and interesting lesson
• Helpfully and cheerfully answers your questions and offers useful advice
• Is relaxed about younger siblings, tantrums, and those times when your child would rather not participate.

There are probably other things I will remember later. If so, I'll add them.

Personally, I also prefer that the teacher is not part of a franchise. I know that all teachers are paid for their work. However, there is a difference between a professional association and a franchise. A professional association (like KMEIA), exists to educate teachers to a high standard, and advocate for children and teachers. There is no pressure on this type of organisation to endorse a teacher if their work is not up to scratch. A franchise exists mainly to make money. There are probably some great teachers who happen to belong to a franchise, but it's better to be aware of the difference.

Anyway, that's my list as of 12.25 am tonight. Let me know if you agree/disagree.

Image: 'The pianist'
www.flickr.com/photos/8034873@N07/1499953615