Year 3/4 classroom music. Differentiation.

[goonIcantakeit]

I start teaching this in September - can't wait!

Anyone got views on differentiation? There will be lots of children who have private lessons out of school.

I do have ideas already but would love to get opinions/testimony from parents or teachers on what has or hasn't worked for them.

Thank you.

:)

My dc are those who do music outside school.

The main problem they seem to have had in music lessons at school is that there is generally a core of children (typically boys, but not entirely) who really don't want to do music, and are as disruptive as they can get away with. So they tend to disproportionally do what interests them-pop music, drumming that type of thing.

In dd2's year the whole class learnt an instrument-the same instrument dd2 learnt in private lessons. So she was used as a soloist (to the class accompaniment) and demonstrator. She enjoyed this, and it did challenge her as she didn't want to be found not good enough, so she really worked hard at it.

Both of them have learnt recorders as a whole form, and that seems to have gone down well.

To me, one of the best things you could do is get them reading music on the treble clef particularly. It amazes me the number of people who haven't got a clue, and it really isn't hard, it's the practice you need. I remember teaching myself aged about 6 in an evening.

The music teacher at my dc's school does a lot of extra curriculum stuff for them. There is a lunchtime recorder club for any who want to. A choir (anyone can join, and at times it has about 1/3 the school in) a boys choir (meets over assembly so very popular ), and a small audition choir. There is also an "orchestra", which any instrument can join. There's usually about 6 pianists and several guitarists as well as more common instruments. Basically if they can follow music they can join. It's great because it gives any child who wants to the experience of playing in a group.

Thank you.

If I had a drumkit and did rock in my class, would parents of DC having private lessons think I was setting lower standards do you think?

I do plan to teach notation but not as the one way into making music IYSWIM.

Surely there is a set scheme of work to follow? DH is head of music for his school and he has a scheme they set and work to for each year group eg year 3 have just done carnival of the animal and went to a schools performance of it last week they then will make up their own tunes for animals. Year 6 have recently composed and performed their own 8 bar blues etc

Differentiation just " happens" . Not that he doesn't think/plan but it evolves- eg part singing, we all sing the tune and eventually the bright sparks that can/need to be kept on tasks all the time get to do a descant/harmony line etc

Whole school sings, year group choirs etc whole school learns recorder and performs. Many other groups too...

Rock is another genre. I am that " precious" parent with kids that do loads of music. THey've done other genres at school ( mostly at secondary) .Not a problem.

Just think about group work though. If there are kids that can play/read music they get a bit frustrated to either always have to do the piano as noone else reads bass cleft, or always have to scribe (or actually have to do the whole thing because others are pratting about , but to be fair that was year 6).

My suggestion to you- above all get them singing. Not shouting, proper singing ( so maybe avoid we will rock you initially!) . THe kids primary choir was awful - enthusiasm but shouty++ . Yes to a boys only choir too.

Differentiation just " happens" . Not that he doesn't think/plan but it evolves- eg part singing, we all sing the tune and eventually the bright sparks that can/need to be kept on tasks all the time get to do a descant/harmony line etc
That is helpful, thank you.

Rock is another genre. I am that " precious" parent with kids that do loads of music. THey've done other genres at school ( mostly at secondary) .Not a problem.
Thank you again.

There is no set scheme of work but we have a strong music team. My colleagues run the choirs and Ks2 sings and my raison d'etre is getting ensembles together.