Enhancing the Professional Practice of Music Teachers: 101 Tips that Principals Want Music Teachers to Know and Do

Contents......Page 6
Foreword......Page 12
Preface......Page 14
About This Book......Page 16
Acknowledgments......Page 20
National Standards for Music Education......Page 22
Part I: TIPS THAT ESTABLISH EFFECTIVE PRACTICE WITH STUDENTS......Page 24
Tip 1: Focus on Children......Page 26
Tip 2: Maintain Perspective......Page 27
Tip 3: Expose Students to All Genres of Music......Page 28
Tip 4: Not Everyone Wants to Be a Music Major......Page 30
Tip 5: Teach Students How to Listen......Page 31
Tip 6: Create Independent Sight-readers......Page 32
Tip 7: Encourage Solo and Ensemble Participation......Page 33
Tip 8: Teach Students to Conduct......Page 35
Tip 9: Teach Theory and History......Page 37
Tip 10: Teach Showmanship......Page 39
Tip 11: Teach Career Opportunities......Page 41
Part II: TIPS THAT SUPPORT RECRUITMENT......Page 44
Tip12: Set Realistic Recruitment Goals and Collect Data......Page 46
Tip 13: Work Closely with Classroom Teachers......Page 47
Tip 14: Partner with the Local Music Dealers; Establish Expectations......Page 49
Tip 15: Create a Standing-Room-Only Recruitment Meeting......Page 51
Tip 16: Recruitment Must Be Ongoing......Page 53
Tip 17: Kids Don’t Learn at the Same Rate......Page 55
Part III: TIPS THAT ENHANCE INSTRUCTION......Page 58
Tip 18: Refine Your Philosophy......Page 60
Tip 19: Know What You Want and How You Are Going to Get There......Page 62
Tip 20: Teach for a Standing Ovation......Page 64
Tip 21: Be the First at Each Rehearsal and the Last to Leave......Page 66
Tip 22: Start Class on Time......Page 67
Tip 23: Stay within Established Times for After-School Rehearsals......Page 69
Tip 24: Plan Ahead (It’s Not the Kids’ Fault That It Rained All Week)......Page 71
Tip 25: Speed Kills......Page 72
Tip 26: You Want Students to Respect You More Than Like You......Page 74
Tip 27: Be a Master Motivator......Page 76
Tip 28: Teach Students to Be Competitive and Accountable......Page 78
Tip 29: Remove Stereotypes......Page 80
Tip 30: Take Charge of Your Schedule......Page 82
Tip 31: Learn Everyone’s Name......Page 84
Tip 32: Learn How to Treat Students Fairly......Page 86
Tip 33: Be on the Lookout for Bullies......Page 88
Tip 34: Limit Your “Okays”......Page 90
Tip 35: Teach the Standards......Page 92
Tip 36: Utilize Technology......Page 94
Tip 37: Assess Student Progress......Page 95
Tip 38: Never Give More Than Three Directions at a Time......Page 96
Tip 39: Don’t Rehearse the Violins While the Trombones Wait......Page 98
Tip 40: Don’t Stand in the Same Place......Page 99
Tip 41: Continuously Improve Classroom Management......Page 101
Tip 42: Take a Course in Counseling......Page 104
Tip 43: Encourage Private Lessons......Page 106
Tip 44: Record Private Lessons......Page 108
Summary: Another Perspective on Instruction and Professional Performance......Page 110
Part IV: TIPS THAT ENHANCE THE PROFESSION......Page 116
Tip 45: Be an Advocate for the Arts......Page 118
Tip 46: Understand the Child of Poverty......Page 120
Tip 47: Promote the “Mozart Effect”......Page 122
Tip 48: Learn the Value of Public Relations......Page 124
Tip 49: Invite the Mayor to Conduct......Page 125
Tip 50: Befriend and Respect the Custodians......Page 127
Tip 51: Be Active in Your Community......Page 128
Tip 52: Write Grants......Page 129
Tip 53: Never Underestimate a Booster Club......Page 130
Tip 54: Create a Program for Performances......Page 132
Tip 55: Train Volunteers and Chaperones......Page 134
Tip 56: Sing, Dance, Create, and Perform......Page 136
Tip 57: Teach Audience Etiquette......Page 138
Tip 58: Pay Your Accompanists......Page 141
Tip 59: Understand the Needs of the Middle School Adolescent......Page 142
Tip 60: Get Along with the Coaches......Page 144
Tip 61: Engage the Community......Page 146
Tip 62: Make Ethical Decisions......Page 148
Tip 63: Organize Productive Fundraisers......Page 151
Tip 64: Learn How to Ask Questions......Page 152
Tip 65: Show Your Passion and Pride......Page 154
Tip 66: Create High-Quality Music with Preschoolers......Page 156
Tip 67: Emphasize the Multiple Intelligences......Page 157
Part V: TIPS FOR PERSONAL GROWTH......Page 162
Tip 68: Have a Life Outside School and Spend QualityTime with Your Family......Page 164
Tip 69: Don’t Smoke......Page 166
Tip 70: Keep Fit......Page 167
Tip 71: Eat a Balanced Diet......Page 168
Tip 72: Don’t Miss School Unless You Are Really Sick......Page 170
Tip 73: Maintain a Positive Attitude......Page 171
Tip 74: Don’t Overlook the Little Details......Page 173
Tip 75: Don’t Write Memos While Angry......Page 175
Tip 76: Commiserate, But Be Careful Where......Page 176
Tip 77: Know When to Leave......Page 179
Tip 78: Avoid the Dumb MistakesThat Can Get You Fired......Page 180
Part VI: TIPS FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH......Page 184
Tip 79: Organize the Music Room and Office......Page 186
Tip 80: Write Notes, Return Phone Calls, and Reply to E-Mail......Page 187
Tip 81: Learn How to Deal with Conflict and Show Restraint......Page 189
Tip 82: Prepare Your Students and Yourself for the Future......Page 193
Tip 83: Know Your Audience......Page 195
Tip 84: Don’t Procrastinate......Page 198
Tip 85: Avoid the “Geek” Stereotype......Page 199
Tip 86: Build a Team within the Music Department......Page 201
Tip 87: Always Make Your Principal Look Good......Page 203
Tip 88: Observe Each Other......Page 205
Tip 89: Guard against Burnout......Page 206
Tip 90: Read......Page 208
Tip 91: Give Professional Presentations......Page 209
Tip 92: Find a Mentor......Page 210
Tip 93: Perform......Page 212
Tip 94: Continually Improve Your Stage Presence......Page 213
Tip 95: Collaborate and Network......Page 215
Tip 96: Avoid the Status-Quo Syndrome......Page 216
Tip 97: Improve Your Leadership Skills......Page 218
Tip 98: Invest in Professional Attire......Page 221
Tip 99: Take Piano Lessons......Page 222
Tip 100: Take Classes and Attend Workshops......Page 223
Tip 101: Be Active in State and National Associations......Page 224
Thanking My Music Teachers......Page 228
Coda......Page 236
References and Recommended Readings......Page 238
About the Author......Page 242