In my last blog post, I discussed how there will always be students who, for one reason or another, might not feel welcome in our classrooms, but that we as music educators can ensure that students feel more welcome and accepted.
Singing songs with a great message
After listening to the song, you could have students discuss what the song is about, asking questions like "What does 'same love' mean?" "What does 'light up the dark' mean?" "What are the different 'whys'?" You could get into a pretty deep conversation here! Granted, this could get tricky, but I think as long as you listen to students, and show no preference for one party or one religion, students could really dig deep into the lyrics.
Click here to purchase the mp3. The kids really love her music, and the more I hear it, the more I want to listen!
Click here to purchase the mp3. The kids really love her music, and the more I hear it, the more I want to listen!
Reading stories about other cultures
This is such a touching story. In this book, Mr. O seems like a grumpy old man in war-torn Sarajevo, but through the story, the children begin to understand Mr. O better. Every Wednesday, when the relief truck visits, Mr. O takes a chair and his cello out to the middle of the town to play his cello. This story could be paired with a cello piece like any of Bach's unaccompanied cello suites, and can teach students much about the refugees, acceptance, and the power of music.
The Harmonica
Wow- I was so happy to find this post! As a member of a community that has been marginalized for a long time and a piano teacher of younger students, I am always trying to be aware of how inclusive my teaching is while trying to be age-appropriate. It's so great to hear that others are doing this too! One of the things my academy did was have all students learn the song Brave (Sara Bareilles) to play in ensembles. I loved that it had a positive message which presented some good opportunities for talking about standing up for yourself/others. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMarshall Cuffe
Piano Instructor/Ambassador
https://www.hoffmanacademy.com/
That's a great idea, Marshall! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete