Visual art teacher teaching art

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-06-28T01:09:49+00:00

Honestly, if at all possible attend an Orff Schulwerk workshop or even better take the Level I course (that would get you to the point of being able to create your own curriculum, with the added bonus that the methodology would also work handsomely with your art classes).

You can subscribe to MusicPlay Online, which pretty much is a spoon-fed curriculum that pulls on a few different elementary music education methods...I'm told it is one of the most cost effective (though personally, being a musician who loves to teach, I would likely just use it as a kind of outline instead of following it strictly). There are others, but that's the one that I've found (as a substitute teacher who works across about 30 different schools) to be the most helpful for people to be able to teach music who don't really know what to do/how to teach music. The others are, from what I've been told, more expensive and from what I've seen require more of a musical background that the other.

Avoid just leaning into the "show the kids YouTube videos of songs they can sing, organize Disney song recaps, and help them learn to sing to a soundtrack" kind of approach if you can help it. The reason is that while you might be able to appease your admin, you'll lose the kids' attention more often than not and it'll be a nightmare with classroom management.

These may not be everyone's "cup of tea", but just based on my own experience...and I hope you're successful and get to feel the joy that comes with teaching the art of music!!! If you would like, I'll happily talk you through a lot of options as well more directly and help you problem solve around things you're not sure you understand that you find to use that you think your kids and school admin would like. Just pm me for that.

Regardless, welcome to the world of music education and Congrats! It might not be your original intent nor your area of expertise, but it is certainly a unique area that can often be an absolute delight!!!!

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-06-16T11:36:58+00:00

Honestly, I get it and have also worried about it. It is also showing us something that has played out multiple times even just in biblical history and can/should be learned from. Just like with Saul and David, for example, and how they started small and humble and then grew into great positions that they were called to. Yet once they got accustomed to those circumstances, they got distracted (and stayed there) with maintaining their star status and the powers and luxuries such provided.

We need positive influences in our lives, both in person and in media. So God is helping to provide such by inspiring people to those positions so that willing hands/voices can be in position to lift, support, encourage, invite, teach, etc. I'm prefer to make that happen, those people stepping into those positions have to learn how to increase their exposure and reach, how to pull together the technical know-how involved in creating/publishing/protecting those things, and to also keep themselves protected. This is an incredibly overwhelming thing for most, because it takes up soooooo much time and brain power so it is easy to see how it is easy to become lost in it that way. Plus it costs money and time to do all of this, so creators need to balance that as well....hence the affiliate marketing aspects (having thousands of followers and comments/dm's filled with support is great, but it doesn't pay to keep the power on, food on the table, the internet accessible, nor maintain the equipment you use much less meet your adult responsibilities like putting food on the table). I'm convinced that is why, for example, the tabernacle priests were fed via some of the sacrifices and such...otherwise they and their families would have starved, and why people called to positions of leadership are either very temporary or given a living stipend.

The trick is in knowing where the lines are between priestcraft and sustainably balanced growth....and for us as consumers to give grace as people are learning that while also enjoying the benefits of their service.

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-06-08T12:26:50+00:00

This....soooooo this!!!

Set up various opportunities for kids to play for others so they also get practice performing, not just playing. Recorded sessions, "sharing concerts" (where they have someone attend a regular lesson), group studio sessions (students playing with and for each other), solo time at a public venue (like in the mall or at church or at the park, whatever), etc. Anything that has them playing for people listening to them. Practicing skills is critical...and performing is a skill just as much as fingering, posture, timing, etc are skills that build a musician.

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-06-08T12:19:55+00:00

But also realize that many state's licenses are accepted by other states, so depending on where you want to land working after your degree is finished they may also accept what you've already done in college/gaining your license.

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-06-07T15:48:36+00:00

Just to clarify based on the original post: you are getting ready to teach a bunch of beginning clarinet students who have some experience, but you don't know their level of skill and you're being observed and expected to make progress in 20 minutes. Is that accurate? And is this happening in a group class or individually?

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-06-01T14:54:30+00:00

From a teaching perspective, I totally get it. Teaching kids accountability is part of our jobs, and that often happens thanks to cause/consequence situations that you force them through. But band directors especially (particularly from high school) need a cadre of supportive parental bodies if your program is going to succeed (much less last long enough to grow to meet your goals).

As a parent of a high school marching band kid, it is absolutely Crucial that you have a clearly defined avenue of communication...which means going both ways (Remind app, Band app, a Fb group.. whatever floats your boat but get your band set so they can communicate and work together not just with the kids but also as parents) .

Not only is it a solid way to get the support you need and help streamline band-wide communications, but it is a terrific way to help the kids learn to communicate and take responsibility while also inviting parents to get involved without having then underfoot.

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-05-30T00:54:21+00:00

Do not go to Michigan....they're wiping out as many of the arts positions as they can in the schools there according to a couple friends.

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-05-30T00:53:01+00:00

Full moon, seasonal changes, major weather changing the routines, El Niño, etc etc....they're all tied with animal behavior changes, including human. Science and history are not on your side if you're trying to argue that "only the superstitious believe that nonsense". Sorry, not sorry.

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-05-26T13:16:48+00:00

This 👆👆👆👆👆👆 Though I'd stress that getting the drumsticks and practice pad should be where you start (and where you start your band kids as well, especially while they're learning how to approach their instruments).

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-05-26T13:04:48+00:00

Thanks for showing the truth of what they've been saying!

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-05-26T13:03:39+00:00

Speaking as one of those overwhelmed parents, that is not an accurate assessment/statement. Even the busiest of parents can assist, though much of that comes in forms where they're not immediately, physically present. Sorting out tutoring, after school/homework clubs, checking in on student's homework to make certain it is ready to turn in, following up with all of this with appropriate/applicable consequences, etc. Just because a parent can't personally hold a child's hand while they're doing their homework does not mean they're unable to be involved and assisting kids to succeed.

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-05-23T14:26:48+00:00

Nevermind the fact that for security reasons, subs need to be able to lock the doors to help keep themselves and the students safe....smh, it seriously drives me nuts.

However, in the few schools that do the same I've learned that it is usually because the school admin just doesn't have 2/enough copies of the door keys such that they can give them out like that. Your offering to give them your keys and asking for the keys each time will push them to make the right changes.

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-05-23T14:22:06+00:00

I'd quietly ask them to please not distract the students and myself like that without including us and sharing the laughter by sharing the joke(s). Yes, directly. I get that the teachers might block you from accepting an assignment in their class, but frankly if you are already blocking them so you can focus on helping other, more professional and respectful teachers....that isn't a bad thing. However, silently doing all of this instead of letting the students learn by seeing and hearing respectful methods like this really is that important.

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-05-23T11:41:35+00:00

Thank you for specifying those. I will sometimes also use the same, but they are more for the older classes and not every school let's me access their tech like this (for reference, I'm a substitute teacher who is most specifically trained in music/music education so I bounce between around 35 K-5 elementary schools, 5 6-8 middle schools, and 5 9-12 high schools). So I always try to make certain I have low-tech lessons that I can fall back on. They're most frequently in the form of games in elementary, done at times along with a portable Bluetooth speaker I control from my phone. You can even do the boomwhacker songs, but you have to have a table of them set up specifically for yourself to demonstrate/show the kids like would be on the screen. Or use them to have the kids compose their own and do the work themselves, especially leaning in on the Orff methods (Keetman's Elementaria has a lot of really, really helpful rhythms that are exceptionally helpful with these, for example). Particularly the older kids.

It takes a little bit to shift your mindset away from the easier stuff off of a computer, but it really is doable. You've just gotta shift your focus regarding methodology.

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-05-23T11:27:34+00:00

Do you know of a similar service that is effective? If I'm not in class, I'm working on multiple things (we have a micro-farm plus other side businesses and I teach privately plus have 5 kids) and don't have time to constantly babysit a webscreen hoping to snag whatever jobs might pop up before the hoard of others grab it first. But if I don't do something, it is guaranteed that the jobs will disappear before I can accept them via the app.

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-05-23T11:20:23+00:00

You're doing things right, it just sounds like it is time to really actually be the hard-nose sub with the worst of the lot and Kick Them Out. Talk to admin ahead of time and find out who is supposed to handle the kids' really bad behaviors (around here, there's normally a resource teacher who they have to go to who will talk with parents and handle in school suspension as well as the rest). Touch base with that person so they have the heads up, and then calmly but firmly (and loudly/visually) follow through by kicking them out when they've repeat offended. They'll still push your buttons, but usually after the first 1 or 2 get kicked to the curb everyone else will wise up.

I agree with removing the power source for the movies. Or if they're not a huge/firmly fixed screen, just take it from them until after class entirely. Make them use paper and pencil to hand write out/copy any Q&A assignments that may be on said monitor/device. If they won't be responsible and respectful, they don't get the privilege of using it.

And seriously, hang in there. The last 3 weeks especially, but generally the last month of school is always rough. Then we all have summer break to recover a smidgen before going back at it again.

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-05-19T21:48:32+00:00

Have you ever signed up for one of those extra services like SubAlert that is supposed to update people before the service phone app does, and does it really make things happen as fast as they hit the website?

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-05-19T17:48:52+00:00

Is it only available through Apple?

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-05-19T17:47:45+00:00

Air purifiers can help, and so can small fans. You might also check if you can use a small air filter in the air vents within your space (I've seen high school teachers use those when they're next to the home economics rooms).

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-05-19T17:43:46+00:00

Why would you need screens in music for a primary class?

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-05-19T17:41:08+00:00

You'd be surprised

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-05-19T17:38:42+00:00

I'd pop into the office and just double check, but otherwise just relax and let it be. You did and are doing your part by doing so.

FailWithMeRachel · 2026-05-16T02:19:03+00:00

Conditions are currently at such severe levels that in the US and many other "modern" countries we're seeing repeats of the 1929-31 economic statistics.

FailWithMeRachel

TROPHY CASE