Music educators generally teach a wide variety of grade levels and a common challenge is engaging older students. Let’s look at how we can have better engagement in elementary music using small group music projects.
The Playlist
The Challenge & the Solution
Music Schedules & Perceptions
Unlike a homeroom/classroom, music classes meet relatively infrequently so building relationships and trust with students takes more time.
Students often consider special area classes a “break” from the rigors of their other classes which can make engagement and classroom management more challenging, especially for grades 4-8.
Why Small Groups?
A successful strategy for learning in special areas can be using small-group projects. Student focus is now on the others in the group and the focus is off a whole-class atmosphere that for some students sets a stage for attention-seeking actions.
Focus is further narrowed when a rubric offers clear-cut objectives for the graded project. A tight timeframe also helps to keep students on task. Here’s a rubric from my small-group TPT drum resource, Tic-Tac-Drum.
What Else Engages Students?
- Shared goal with teammates.
- Culturally responsive options allowing students to create based on their own personal background knowledge.
- Students within the group can have roles that match their strengths.
- Students can offer and receive help within their group.
The Role of the Teacher
- The teacher coaches, offering help as needed. This includes personnel clashes within groups, subject-specific assistance, and keeping everyone moving within the set time frame.
- The teacher will often be asked, “Can we…?” as students begin to think outside the box. (I almost always with a waggle of my eyebrows said, “YES!”)
- The teacher is the cheerleader giving everyone permission to try out ideas, be brave, and experiment.
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How to Set Up Small Group Work Time
- Display the expectations: Project a rubric with the learning objectives clearly and simply described. Include learning and behavioral goals.
- Establish a time frame for practice: Shorter practice times require students to make decisions quickly. If you find groups are working effectively and would use a time extension to enhance their presentation, give them a small increase.
- Monitor the groups early and often: Within the first few minutes, rotate to all of the groups and ask to see a portion of their presentation, especially how they will start their piece. For groups that are stalled, offer advice.
After the initial rotation, go back to the groups that were stalled to see if they have progressed. For groups that have been consistently moving forward, ask them how much time they need to complete the assignment.
Better Engagement Using Small Group Music Projects-DRUMS
The Drumming Project
Here’s an example of a small-group drumming project!
Whole-Group Mini Lesson
As a class, put together a drum arrangement that uses three elements: a steady beat, ostinato, and a lengthier main rhythm. (This whole-class process can be done in 20 minutes because it’s very teacher-led)
- Teach the steady beat deciding on what type of sound-bass or open tone.
- Teach an ostinato and try it with the steady beat. (split room half and half)
- Lastly, teach the main rhythm. This part can be any kind of known rhyme such as Deedle Deedle Dumpling or anything that has enough variety to not double the steady beat/ostinato.
Tip: To dispel the “babyish” factor with Deedle, without identifying it, play the rhythm on a drum using a variety of sounds. Ask if anyone recognizes the pattern. Then reveal the “surprising” answer.
Form & Tone Color
Now you have your three parts and need to decide the form: how you’ll start, how many times the main rhythm will play, and how you’ll end it. Considering tone color, you’ll also need to decide which drums play each part.
Perform as a class with the goal of no teacher/student talk or help to get started, continue through, and end the piece.
Tip: If you don’t have a class set of drums, supplement with unpitched percussion.
Another tip: If you use rhythm sticks, make a rule that if a drumstick touches a drum head, the group loses the sticks and uses clapping in its place.
Small-Group Drum Assignment
Get in groups of 4-6 and rework the whole-class assignment activity!
Create a performance using a beat, ostinato, and main rhythm. (Use Deedle again, have other rhymes available for them, or let them make up their own rhythm theme) The performance needs to be between 45-90 seconds. The *group loses points if anyone talks so the beginning and ending especially need to be talk-free. Part of the rubric is audience etiquette as groups perform for the class.
*I deducted points from individuals, not the group.
Tic-Tac-Drum
Using the above ideas, I created a drumming resource for you!
Here’s a TPT version of the above lesson plan in both PowerPoint and Google Slide versions. It includes step-by-step slides and an editable rubric.
Ukulele Small Group Ideas
Getting away from direct instruction and using easy Orff ideas for your ukulele curriculum is a great way to re-engage your students when they hit a plateau in their ukulele learning journey. Ukulele and Orff rotation stations is a great start!
