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Tools to save music teachers stress and money


Music Teachers have a hectic life. Of all teachers probably music teachers have the biggest load to do on a regular week by week basis.

Of course, many would argue with that supposition. Physics, Science and English teachers of course work very hard and no-one would say they don’t work extremely hard to bring brilliant lessons to their students.

Music Teachers however have to do a lot of extra activities that other teachers don’t have to - like running choir and orchestra programs, preparing student recitals, co-ordinating instrumental music lessons and communicating with students about rehearsals and fundraising for instruments.

WIth all these tasks taking the teachers energy, it is vital that they be extremely organized to ensure that their lessons are both fun for pupils and trouble free for themselves.

There are a few practical tools that can help music teachers

A diary. This simple thing can save you all sorts of embarrassmentfrom double scheduling events if it is well managed. It is so easy to double schedule school events with personal events, as most music teachers would well understand! You can use a modern Palm Computer or i Phone, or use the old fashioned bound diary for just a couple of bucks.

A plan for the organization of equipment. Even if you’re music room has one battered old xylophone and a battered guitar with three of the strings missing it is important that those two instruments have a set storage place, and that children come to appreciate that when in your classroom. When you are teaching hundreds of children every week and sometimes thousands of dollars worth of instruments it is vital that it is put away carefully. Make a plan, write it down and put it up near the equipment. Vigilance over this for a couple of weeks will make your teaching a lot easier in the long run!

A personal website - What if you could have a place on the internet where you post information for your students, music parts for practice and assessments so they can complete without you even being there? Its as easy as setting up a personal page on blogger or wordpress, and getting started. Just consider - if you put materials there that you ask children to download for homework... once its completed this teaching year you won’t have to do it again!

Computer and Technology tools. The latest software for music often has inbuilt test and work sheet building tools, so you can write your own teaching materials in minutes.

Prepared Lesson plans downloading instant print worksheets and lesson plans from the world wide web can save you many hours preparation, and there are many brilliant sources of material available now.

Music teaching can be such a satisfying career path, as it is sharing the love of music and teaching - and it should be enjoyable for all!
The author of this article, Kevin Tuck is a former teacher and editor for the Fun Music Company, who create simple and complete Music Lesson Plans for music teachers everywhere.

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