Transcript Alma Mater - Misericordia University

How to Teach a Song and
Music for Special Needs
TED 387 Music Methods
Dr. Steve Broskoske
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How to Teach a Song
Before Teaching a Song
• Before teaching a song, remember that:
– Content is the main focus of the activity.
– Music is one (important, rich) medium used to
enhance the lesson about the content.
Before Teaching a Song
• Before attempting to teach a song:
– Discuss the song. Relate it to the lesson.
– Allow the learners to hear the song.
How to Teach a Song
• Have the learners echo-sing the song in
short segments. Then put short segments
together.
– Sing a line. Have the learners echo the line.
– Sing a second line. Have the learners echo.
– Put the two lines together to form a larger part
of the song.
– Ultimately, let the learners sing the song from
beginning to end.
Alma Mater
• Misericordia, we’re proud of you.
We love your murmuring pine trees,
your groves and grottos too.
You are our alma mater
and to you we will ‘er be true.
Misericordia we hail,
dear Misericordia.
Finding and Using Music Online
What Types of Music
Files Can I Use?
• Common usable music file types:
– .wav
– .mp3
– .mid
Actual recordings
Midi files are not
recordings. They are like
player piano rolls. They
teach the instrument how
to play. They contain no
words/lyrics.
How Do You Find Songs Online?
• Search on iTunes (or other music service).
• Search at Google:
– “Song Title in Quotes” “Artist Name” .mp3
Search at Google
Comparing File Types
• I’ve Been Working on the Railroad
.mp3 and .wav
Some .mp3 files
are free. For most
you have to pay.
Many .wav files
are free online.
.mid
Tons of free .mid
files online. Watch
quality.
Free Midi Resources
(kids.niehs.nih.gov/music.htm)
Don’t Forget about Video
You can also search
videos, which are a
great source of music.
YouTube
TeacherTube
Music with Students with Special
Needs (or Who Are Different)
Students with Special Needs
• Music is a successful inclusion tool,
engaging special learners and typical
peers together in an environment that is
meaningful to all participants.
Students with Special Needs
• Research suggest that students with
specific diagnoses (e.g., autism, Williams
syndrome, Rett syndrome) may have
elevated preference or heightened
responses to music when compared to
typically developing peers.
Students with Special Needs
• Music is an effective task motivator for
many students.
– Decreases non-compliant behavior.
– Provides a means for increased attention and
duration of on-task participation.
• Music functions as a mnemonic aid.
• Music cuing provides a means to structure
auditory stimuli and speech output for
students with cognitive or language
delays.
Source: tunedintolearning.com
Music Benefits All Students
• Music can provide strong metaphors and
positive content while touching emotions
to help students understand and accept
diversity and differences.
• Music can help create a powerful lesson if
incorporated with good teaching and other
powerful metaphors by a skillful teacher.
It’s Not Easy Being Green
• Do you think Kermit is happy
about his color and what he
is?
• Why does he feel that it
wasn’t easy to be green?
It’s Not Easy Being Green
(4th Grade)
It’s Not Easy Being Green
(video)
It’s Not Easy Being Green
(Midi file)
music – no words
It’s Not Easy Being Green
• Do you think Kermit is happy
about his color and what he is?
• Why did he feel that it wasn’t easy
to be green?
• What is difficult about being a 4th
grader?
• What is easy about being a 4th
grader?
• What is easy about being you?
It’s Not Easy Being Green
• Write an essay (3 paragraphs) that
answers the following questions:
– What are the qualities about yourself that are
“easy”?
– What are the qualities about yourself that are
“difficult”?
– Pick a bright color and state why you are like
that color.
Must Be Santa
Must Be Santa
1st Grade Class Performance
Must Be Santa
Professional
Must Be Santa
• Beard that's white: Use one hand to make hat
movement but under chin.
• Special night: Cross arms in middle and lift them out
and around over head to sides.
• Suit that’s red: Run hands down both sides of body.
• Cap on head: Make a hand movement for a long hat
with a point.
• Cherry nose: Pinch nose like you are wearing a clowns
nose.
• Ho, ho, ho: Rub belly.
• Must be Santa, Santa Claus: Use right arm to punch air
across body. Like you are saying “nuts, I got it wrong!”
Next Session
• Let’s start looking at how teachers can
specifically incorporate music into
teaching/learning.