A Note on Teaching Music

In previous posts I believe I mentioned that I am teaching 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th and 6^th grade music. Two months ago, I would have said I had bitten off a little more than I could chew. Teaching music was difficult not only because it required me to tap into a much different skill set, but also because, due to the relaxed nature of an elective subject, class misconduct evolved from quiet murmurings between students to outright fights between students (at one point escalating to something that resembled a sort of Ultimate Fighting match… kicking above the waist included). Fortunately, as I have solidified my style and authority as a teacher, my music classes have become less daunting and, at times, quite fun. Nina, who taught music last year, spoke truthfully when she said that although music was often the most difficult class to plan, it was often the most rewarding.

The program’s purpose for having the fellows teach classes other than the typical English class is to give students a more “rounded” education. So often in China classes such as music and art are set-aside for the core subjects: Chinese, math and English. For example, the fourth graders at Yongfeng rarely attend music class because their music teacher, who is also their Chinese teacher, uses the class time to further review Chinese content. As such, the importance of our elective classes as a creative outlet/escape is greater than ever.

This semester, the goals for my music classes have been to 1) provide students with an opportunity to get those creative juices flowing and 2) in the spirit of the liberal arts, help students realize that studying music does not just exercise artistic skills, but skills from many different subjects as well.

The pictures and clip below are from a project I did with my 1^st and 2^nd grade music classes. After a few weeks of studying the notation and value of quarter rests, whole, half, quarter, and eighth notes, I asked the students to write their own four beat compositions. Rhythm, note value in particular, can be easily related to math problems. For example, a half note (2) + a quarter note (1) + a quarter note (1) = 4 beats. Therefore, part two of the project required students to correspond their notation with a numerical note value. The enthusiasm and success of the project was exciting for the students and myself. Enjoy the pictures and clip! 

Second grade rhythms:

http://youtu.be/aHLJ7g7mVEU

First grade rhythms:

HAPPY GOBBLE GOBBLE DAY From the kids!!!!!

                                                        Thanksgiving Thank You cards

                                                   Zhao Lao Shi and the 6th graders

                                                          In process of making their turkeys

                                                         I'm all done!

                                              Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Cooking for the Local Teachers!

On Tuesday, we cooked a western meal for the local teachers at the school. This dinner was inspired a couple of weeks before when a few of the local teachers spontaneously cooked dinner. We found out that we were not alone in our cravings for something other than the daily servings of cauliflower and radish salad. We chose a simple dish, penne with tomatoes and spinach cooked in olive oil. We hoped that classic Italian would not only be easy to execute, but also be accepted by the palettes of our Chinese colleagues.  Lin, Gabi, and Annie lead the pasta effort and I transformed the bread we eat everyday into a garlic butter masterpiece. We also served homemade chocolate chip cookies that I baked in the toaster-oven the weekend before.  The result was delicious and very reminiscent of home.

Yang Laoshi, Chen Laoshi, Xue Laoshi, and Li Xiaozhang enjoying freshly made garlic bread!

At 5:30, after the last kids left school, we began to cook dinner. By 5:35, hungry teachers started hovering in the kitchen and asked us excitedly when we would be serving dinner.  At that point we were a long way from finishing, but I appreciated their enthusiasm and eagerness to observe our cooking techniques. Like most kitchens in China, the kitchen at Yongfeng does not have an oven. Instead the bread we eat is baked in a round machine that looks like a very large Panini press. I coated the press in butter and toasted the bread until it was crunchy. Cooking the pasta; however, was far more exciting. The local teachers helped us light a fire in the huge outdoor cooking pot. The chef uses the pot everyday to cook lunch, but seeing the fire burn against the night sky and knowing that we were responsible for putting food on the table made the process all the more thrilling.

The fire burns while we wait for the water to boil.

Gabi, Annie, and Lin prepare to cook the pasta.

For the most part, the meal was well received. The biggest complaint was the flavor wasn’t strong enough. We know this not because the opinion was voiced, but because we watched several teachers add the cabbage and 辣椒(pepper) we normally eat to the bowl of pasta we served. I was worried that the cookies might be too rich for the teachers, but those seemed to go over pretty well too. The night was definitely a success.

Trick or Treat! Trick or Treat! Trick or Treat!

This Thursday, we celebrated Halloween at Yongfeng. The kids spent the days leading up to Halloween making masks and crafts to prepare for our celebration. When they arrived at school on the 31st they new that it was a special day. Their excitement escalated steadily throughout the morning and peaked during lunchtime when the four of us acted out the story of Peter Pan, complete with costumes and projected illustrations. After the show, each student had an opportunity to seek out their English teacher and exchange three magic words for a small bag of American candy corn.

I provided candy to the second graders and the fifth graders. Immediately after the show, I walked to the second grade classroom carrying a witch’s hat brimming with treats. At this point in time children of all grades were running at top speed around the school, energized by sugar and adrenaline. I entered the classroom to find about half of my students waiting for me. I told them that everyone needed to be in the classroom before we could start. Two of the class leaders ran out the door to round up their classmates.

I spend more time with the second graders than any other grade. They are sweet kids, but we do have our share of behavior problems. Topping that list of problems is easily the frequency with which half of my class hides in the bushes during P.E. It was humorous watching them sit so straight and patiently, desperate for the candy. We practiced saying "Trick or Treat" together and then each student said the words individually before receiving their candy. It was extremely satisfying for me to see them so excited. Even my students who are often crying, for one reason or another, had smiles on their faces.

The fifth graders were also pretty desperate for candy, but were significantly more intense in their pursuit. This is the fifth year of the Yongfeng program and as a result the fifth graders are especially well versed in Halloween traditions. In the morning, I taught their English class and gave them lollipops, so I felt it was important that they wait at least a few periods before receiving more candy. They were instructed to wait until then end of seventh period before coming to my room to trick or treat. 4:20 on the dot the bell rang and I could hear the scramble of desks from across the courtyard. Then the stampede began. I walked out my bedroom door and watched as kids poured out of the fifth grade classroom on the second floor of the teaching building. They ran down the hall, down the stairs, across the courtyard and up the stairs to my bedroom on the second floor of the residential building. They lined up. I gave them candy. The whole event was over in three minutes. By 4:24 the hallway was clear and the fifth graders were back in their classroom. This brief moment captured the sentiments of the day: anticipation and excitement. It is midterm season at Yongfeng. All of the classes are devoted to intense test prep and the kids are exhausted. As I watched the kids run to my room, I felt glad that I made them wait until the end of the day. Clearly they had been looking forward to trick-or-treating all afternoon. It was nice to be their motivation for getting through three consecutive Chinese Literature periods.

            

Halloween has never been one of my favorite holidays. As a kid, I preferred passing out Halloween candy instead of trick-or-treating. I enjoyed dressing up, but I rarely spent more than a few days planning out a costume. This year, Halloween at Yongfeng was one of the best ever and I enjoyed every minute. The opportunity to relax and have fun with my students made me realize that I need to do it more often. I spend a lot of time trying to connect with my students through the English language. For some, bonding over academic success is enough to secure a relationship, but for many of my students it barely scratches the surface. Celebrating Halloween reminded me that there are more ways to connect with a student than one on one tutoring sessions.  A little fun and a little sugar have the power to go a very long way in creating a lasting impression on a ten year old. 

Happy Halloween!

Just a few photos to share from the day!