It sort of cracks me up that I am even writing a post on how to teach elementary music. As if one blog post could cover the rich and diverse system is elementary music. Where to even begin?
But while I might not be able to cover EVERYTHING you need to know, I do think I can get you pointed in the right direction. I hope you can use this blog post as a guide and a reference you can come back to any time you need it.
How Do I Become an Elementary Music Teacher?
Let’s start with the complete basics. In order to teach elementary music, you need to become an elementary music teacher. There are several pathways you can take.
Getting a Degree in Music Education
Probably the most traditional way to become an elementary music teacher is to go to school for it. Not every school has a music education degree. You might have to get a degree in education and a minor in music, or something along those lines.
Obviously, if you can find a college with a degree in Music Education, that would be the ideal.
Other Paths to Becoming a Music Teacher
I would say almost every state has some sort of pathway to become a certified teacher in a subject area without getting your degree in that field. But it really varies by school district, so I couldn’t outline it all here.
It may involve taking a set of courses while teaching, or taking a competency test, or any number of other things. Do a little research into your specific district if you are interested in this option.
Classroom Management for Elementary Music
I recommend that the very first thing that you focus on in your elementary music class is creating a positive classroom environment.
Music Classroom Rules
You will want to have a plan for your classroom management. Decide on a few rules. Less is more.
Think through how you want to handle behaviors if they arise. And also think about if you will have any sort of rewards system for good behavior.
Your school may have a specific system in place that you will need to use, or you may need to decide for yourself what works for you.
Build Relationships
You won’t get any buy in from students if they don’t think you care about them. Make sure to build relationships with students during and outside of class as you see them around the building.
For lots more details on classroom management, check out my blog post Classroom Management Tips That Work.
How To Stay Organized as an Elementary Music Teacher
Elementary music teachers juggle impossible schedules. You will likely have six or more different grade levels, all with their own standards and lesson plans. Not mention chorus, performances, am/pm duties and everything else.
You will need to find a way to keep organized. A plan book can help keep track of what is happening in your lessons each day.
I recommend having a to do list. This allows me to brain dump everything onto a paper. Then I prioritize which things need to be done the most and allocate time to get it all done. You can read about my personal system here. Or make one that works for you.
And don’t forget about the plethora of digital work management systems like Asana, Monday and ClickUp. Many of these platforms have free versions that work perfectly for individuals. I have used Asana for years as my digital to do list and LOVE it.
Elementary Music Curriculum: What To Teach in Elementary Music
Now that we have some of the basics down, it’s time to dive into the main thing – what to teach in elementary music. What does an elementary music teacher do in their class?
Elementary Music Standards
Well, just like any other teacher, it all starts with standards. Each state has their own set of elementary music standards. These will get you about 60% of the way there. Now you know what to teach.
Then you have to figure out – how exactly am I going to teach each of these things, and in what order?
Elementary Music Lesson Plans
I go into a lot more detail on this in my blog post Lesson Plans for Elementary Music: 10 Crucial Things You’ve Been Forgetting.
I even provide a free digital lesson planning template you can use to organize all those lesson plans as you go.
Elementary Music Activities
After you know WHAT you are going to teach and WHEN you are going to teach it. The Sunshine and Music Blog is a great resource for HOW to teach it in a way that is fun and impactful.
Some of my most popular posts include:
Teaching Jazz: Music of the Harlem Renaissance
And that is just scraping the surface. Just go to the blog and search the term you are looking for. Chances are, I have something to help you out.
The absolute BEST way to always be in the pipeline for new fun activities from the blog is to join my email list. Best of all – you get a free jazz mini-lesson just for signing up!
How to Teach Elementary Music Performances
Chances are that if you are an elementary music teacher, you will have to prepare a performance at least once in your life. This can feel like a daunting task – especially if it’s your first time. There are so many details to remember. And how many practices will it take for your students to be ready? So many unanswered questions.
Don’t worry! I have a blog for that too. In How To Put On a Concert: The Music Teacher’s Guide To a Perfect Performance I guide you step by step through all the things you will need to know to be performance ready.
Learn How To Teach Elementary Music From Professional Organizations
New music teacher. Old music teacher. Non-music teacher thrust into teaching elementary music. No matter who you are, you can benefit from a professional community.
They can help you have a strong, sequential plan for how to deliver your music instruction, based on their philosophy, research and pedagogy. Plus, each professional organization is filled with skilled teachers who will give you new ideas to keep your teaching fresh, effective and fun.
Some of the big music education organizations include but are not limited to:
National Association for Music Educators
American Orff-Schulwerk Association
Organization for American Kodaly Educators
Gordon Institute for Music Learning (Music Learning Theory)
More Posts About How to Teach Elementary Music
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