AboutSue Catchpole Expertise I can answer questions on teaching Curriculum music (not specialist instrumental teaching)with children age 3 - 11. For example how to teach beat and rhythm; keeping control in instrumental lessons! Composition, listening skills etc. Because of the unique nature of my job, moving from school to school and without many of the professional commitments of the usual Primary teacher, many of the more general questions about educational practice are outside my scope. I prefer to answer questions purely about the teaching of Music.
Experience I was a Primary class teacher for nine years then became a Music specialist doing freelance teaching in schools for two years and then joining the Curriculum Support Team as part of the schools Music service in Sandwell, West Midlands where I teach approximately a thousand children every week in seven different schools. I completed an intensive training programme run by the Voices Foundation (the aural approach to Music Education) and have led many training sessions for Primary non-specialist teachers. I am an experienced musician and play piano to diploma standard, accordion in a semi-professional barn dance band, Recorder and Clarinet. I am assistant director of Music at an annual weeklong residential Circle-Dance event, Music director of one of the 4 yearly Lichfield Mystery Plays and own my own Music Publishing Company.
Organizations Musician's Union, General Teaching Council, National Accordion Organisation, Carl Orff Association (Primary Music Education); English Folk Dance and Song Society.
Publications I am just completing a publication called 'Stamp and Play' introducing a new method of recording children's composition work.
Education/Credentials Certificate of Education (Music specialist); A.L.C.M. (Piano performance, history, theory and composition); Grade 8 Music Theory; Grade 5 Clarinet; Grade 4 Piano Accordion; Advanced Certificate Trio Sonata Performance (Recorder).
I have been searching for a good music/dance lesson for elementary students. I am not personally talented in the area of music so I was curious if you could give me a specific suggestion for a lesson, or maybe a valuable website that would help me.
Thank you for your time,
Heather Washburn
Answer Hi Heather,
Thanks for getting in touch. What age is 'elementary'? I'm in the UK and we have a different system here. But regardless of age, a 'good' lesson generally would aim to build on something the children have already done or fit into a long term scheme. Are you talking about a one-off lesson or a series of progressive lessons, say for half a term?
Do you want them to do practical work (singing or percussion?), a listening activity??
If you give me a bit more information about what they have done already maybe I can help.
Regards,
Sue
