You may want to bring Classical music into the music room, but aren’t quite sure where to start. You need engaging activities and want your students to really connect with the music they’re learning. If so, this blog post (and episode 216 of The Elementary Music Teacher podcast) will provide some ideas for you to begin bringing Classical music into your music room.
1. Share the stories of the composers
Your students may have heard about Classical music or have even learned to play certain pieces in an ensemble or solo setting. But, have they taken the time to learn more about the composers than just their names? When students learn about the struggles that some of the composers faced and the adversity they had to overcome, it helps students to connect with them in a new way. They’ll find a new appreciation for the composer and it causes their music to be that music more real.
2. Incorporate discussions and SEL
While students are listening to various pieces, have them discuss how the music makes them feel. Allow students to honestly express their feelings with each other. This is a great way to incorporate SEL. Discussion can also center around how music unites us and to talk about how awesome it is every student is hearing the same piece, yet feeling different emotions from it.
3. Relate Classical music to the music of today
While having discussions with students, relate Classical music to music students are familiar with. Kids all have their own personal taste in music from a variety of genres and styles. While exploring these different songs, students can compare and contrast the music they’re hearing in the music room with music they already know. Maybe the melodies sound similar, or there are similar instruments being used, or even the rhythms sound the same.
4. Experience music in the movies
Ask students the last movie they saw. Then, bring in snippets from movies like “Star Wars”. Play an important scene of that movie with and without the music to show how the music makes a difference. While watching a movie, students probably haven’t ever stopped to think about how the music enhances the movie watching experience. By taking out the musical portion of a scene, it will help them to realize just how important Classical music is.
5. Bring in a teaching artist
Bring in a teaching artist, whether in person or virtually, to play their instrument live and to share their story about being a musician. Students learn about the various instruments of the orchestra and have done some listening activities to Classical music. But, being able to really interact with a professional musician brings a whole new level of connection points to your students. Listen to episode 187 of The Elementary Music Teacher podcast with Allison Russo for examples of how to bring teaching artists into your music room.
6. Show Classical student musicians
Of course bringing in teaching artists is such an amazing experience. But, another great idea is to show your students musicians who are around the same age as them. Not only that, show students musicians who look like them, come from similar areas, and who enjoy playing lots of different styles of music. Black Violin is a website you definitely need to check out. These two awesome string musicians share about their journey into Classical music and love to bring music education back to kids who can relate to their stories.
7. Give students the opportunity to create
Hearing Classical music and watching performers are part of bringing Classical music into the music room. But, one of the best ways students learn is with hands on experiences. Let students create with Classical music and add beats to it, move to it, or compose their own bars. They can do this in a center activity, in small group work, with a partner, or even on their own.
8. Find Classical music in popular songs
Use the website Who Sampled to show your students how some of their favorite songs have sampled Classical music. Students will discover that a lot of popular music has sampled other music to be what it is today. It’s so neat to see those aha moments happen in your students and to see the connection points forming between what they know and what they’re learning.
9. Play an instrument of the orchestra game
Instead of just learning about the instruments of the orchestra, have students listen to the different instrument families. Maybe they’ve already had the opportunity to see an orchestra performance virtually, or you’ve been able to bring in a live musician. Now, let students have fun with it and do an activity like letting them play instrument 4 corners. Call out an instrument, and students will walk to the corner of the room of the family that instrument belongs in.
10. Play interactive games and activities online
Of course, if you can bring students to the orchestra, bring the orchestra to them. Let students play games on websites like Classics for Kids where they can listen, play games, and interact with instruments of the orchestra in a hands on way.
Have you brought Classical music into your music room? Tell me about it in the comments below or share your thoughts on social media as you share this post. I’d love for you to share this post or any of the resources on my website with a friend or colleague who you know NEEDS to see it too.
P.S. Are you feeling frustrated or stuck as an elementary music teacher? Check out these free resources to help you teach elementary music with confidence!
Also…I wrote a book called “Make A Note: What You Really Need To Know About Teaching Elementary Music” to help music teachers move forward in your teaching career. You can get your copy here.