Part 1:

I am feeling good. It’s been a very cold and rainy Saturday in George, and so I’ve had a nice slow day, balanced with relaxing but also managing to work on 2 different assignments. The week has also been productive. Due to COVID and just general flu going around, many teachers were off work, so I had the opportunity to teach my own class. This obviously required lesson preparation, covering additional coaching sessions, as well as staying late to mark books. All of this aside, I still managed to hammer away at some university work and get a few runs in, so I’m feeling good going into the new week.

Part 2:

I feel like every week there is always a lot of things that are new to me that I had zero knowledge of prior to working through the study unit, but as I have said before, that is due to my very limited experience with music. But if I could pick one section that stood out most, and that I feel I will benefit from the most, it would be the section about teaching strategies, and specifically the tips for playing with the instruments. I know that the kids always LOVE it when the tambourines and shakers and xylophones come out, and so I would try to incorporate instruments as much as possible, because I would want my learners to enjoy coming to music lessons. I am however aware that this can also quickly turn into chaos, so it is vital to know how to structure and manage a lesson that uses instruments.

Part 3:

1. I would have to admit, based on my very little knowledge on teaching music, I think I would choose contemporary commercial music, but with consideration on what is needing to be taught. I just feel that it is the best way to grab the kids interest and attention, getting them excited and involved in the lesson, because they are familiar with the songs, they recognise them and get excited about them.

2. Yes, I felt that this study unit offered a wide variety of lesson ideas and strategies, and made use of many different instrument suggestions. Not all school are in a position where they can afford a large selection of instruments, and so it is important that we are equipped with knowledge and various ideas that will help us to get lesson objectives across, using minimal resources, or whatever we may have available. We also need to be knowledgeable about learners’ different cognitive and physical development levels, but also their socioeconomic status, race, religion. All learners need to feel at home in the classroom.

3. There could have been some ideas and examples about how to make your own instruments using recycled material. You can make a shaker using a bottle and rice for example.