What can make General Music fun? Well, at Southern Middle, we have found that Performance Ensembles can make General Music Fun. Each 9 weeks my General Music Classes get to choose to learn an instrument. They have 4 choices, Steel Drums, Dulcimer, Ukulele, or Hand Chimes. This 9 weeks, my classes have chosen the Steel Drum and it has been a blast so far. Every student that I teach has found success with the Steel Drum. SMS has been blessed to be able to have a classroom set (24) Steel Drums. Using fundraising money, COVID Monies, and grant monies, we purchased 24 steel drums over the course of 4 years.
SMS students learn how to play using Jumbie Jam: Beginner’s Guide and Song Book. They love the songs in the Guide. The guide starts with scales and moves students through a bossa song, a Reggae song, and finishes with a Soca song. Students are accompanied by a CD or online accompaniment for each song. What I like is that the Guide lets students read the music at their level. It has 3 versions for students. The 1st version is just letter names all on one line, Version 2 puts the note names on 2 lines (one line for right hand and one line for left hand, and Version 3 is music notes on the staff. Students find what they are comfortable with and find success.
Performance Ensembles have changed the way that I teach. It makes every day fun. Students come to class excited to play an instrument. They are wanting to learn. Recently, 15 students from SMS were selected to play at KMEA Music Conference for a session on Music Ensembles in the General Music Classroom. I had a waiting list of names that wanted to attend and perform. Using this strategy, approximately 70% of SMS students are part of a performance ensemble each year.
So, how can you make general music more impactful for your students? Let them play instruments!
Jeremy Cole
Southern Middle School
Pulaski County Schools
Grades 6-8
