Overview:
Basic instruments (small percussion instruments or recorders) can be used by students to create preliminary compositions, set moods, a multi-sensory experience, and a hands-on means of increasing literacy skills. These fundamental tools are extensions of the student’s ability to be musically expressive. More advanced tools now available through technology are also available to expand teachers’ options in the music classroom. The best use of music technology is to enhance the curriculum rather than using it for its own sake. When used in intelligent ways, technology can be used to inspire students to want to learn, to teach students new skills, and to help them practice and improve.
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
- Summarize the rationale for incorporating instruments into elementary music lessons,
- Identify guidelines for using instruments and technology,
- Classify different types of age-appropriate instruments for classroom use,
- Describe teaching strategies for using instruments,
- Describe teaching strategies for using technology, and
- Summarize the rationale for using technology as a teaching tool.
Module Summary
This module presented fundamental strategies for introducing students to the use of classroom instruments. Classroom instruments are an important tool in helping young students internalize music concepts and skills through kinesthetic reinforcement, as well as respond musically through performance. For many students, these instruments are a first step into the world of performance that utilizes an instrument outside of the voice.
This module also introduced technology as a teaching tool. Technology increases the opportunity for active learning experiences in the music classroom as students use technological devices to compose, perform, and learn music. The use of technology has the capability of promoting learning across the disciplines, and stimulating cooperative learning, creativity, and higher-level thinking skills.
Classroom instruments and technology also increase motivation and can aid in the implementation of instruction and assessment in very practical ways. Both should be considered as effective and efficient tools capable of assisting teachers in designing instruction and assessments that will help students set and achieve realistic goals.