Band Director to Elementary Music can mean a lot of things for one person. It can also mean a lot in the reverse, Elementary Music to Band Director. I was a band director for 15 years before I went into elementary music. Now that I have my 1st year of elementary music in the books, I'm ready to share what I've learned.
#1 Be prepared for a different schedule
My personal reasons might be the same for you or it might be something completely different. Band Director to Elementary Music meant a different schedule.
Free weekends
Free Friday Nights
More of a Summer
In turn, it was a definite pay cut with me not getting my extra time compensated... HOWEVER, more time with my family meant way more to me and my husband than anything else in this world. We were fortunate to plan ahead and prepare for this transition. Best decision for my family.
#2 Be Prepared for Different Behaviors
Going from mostly middle school band director to elementary music, the behaviors of students (and yourself) will be different. YOU won't change as a person in your teaching - always find yourself in your work...but you will find things that you adapt to in order to reach your new students.
Elementary kids are very different than middle school - the drama is different, their vocabulary is different, their wants are different (from my personal experience).
In elementary, be prepared for a lot of "he said, she said", "can you tie my shoes," "they said 'butthead'," and some "they aren't my friend anymore", whereas, middle school is a little more intense with friendship function (you will have more real talks and often times they need a listening ear with some guidance from you).
Elementary kids are often wanting an immediate solution, but you have the opportunity to help guide them in finding their voice and learning how to properly advocate for themselves.
In secondary schools, a lot of the IEP or 504's have been created and discovered to meet those specific students needs. In elementary, be prepared to help these kids find their modifications and accommodations and work closely in communication with their homeroom teachers. We learn a lot about students particularly K-2nd grade and how best to reach each kid.
#3 Outlet to be creative
I thrive in creation. I love it. I find myself in those moments of creating new content, thinking outside of the ordinary, and being a little "extra" with my lessons. Elementary music opens itself to dramatic play and creations that give life to a lesson. Band Directors get to make music...yes. But is it really an open platform of creation...not totally.
Band directors help teach the music on paper or how to improv within chord structures. And don't get me wrong...this is all AMAZING and ABSOLUTELY important to being a musician!
But elementary is a different kind of creation - you want to spark passion in these kids that will last them a lifetime so they WILL pick band or choir when given the choice. OR when they are 30 years old, they still have that passionate spark of music that they can pick up a guitar and sing, or play piano, or teach their son or daughter how to play drum set. The little sparks we give them can grow to be a flame of music appreciation and skill set.
Collaboration with your specials team can be a huge project for your school!
Music programs ranging from bucket drumming to ukulele playing to a musical
Make props for these programs to bring them to life
Dramatic play with Kindergarten and 1st grade
Giving a lot of composition freedom for 3rd and 4th grade students in loop music, chrome music lab or Orff composition tricks
Students creating their own Arioso in class and having the confidence and bravery to perform in front of the class or just for you
Have circle games in the back of your pocket with fun stuffed animals or toys that match the theme of the game
AND SO MUCH MORE!
#4 Find your people
I know some band directors work by themselves but some work with people right beside them. Most elementary music teachers are the only ones in their buildings. Band directors definitely learn to delegate with one another and even have amazing help from their secondary students....but elementary, FIND YOUR PEOPLE! Yes, elementary students can help with small tasks in the classroom, but I'm talking about the big stuff.
My specials team was a LIFE saver! We helped each other whenever we could and offered support even when not asked by one another. I know not all special teams will function like this - but don't miss this opportunity if it arises.
You will be the only one that plans your lessons. Just you. You don't have immediate music team there to talk you through things or provide help in musical theology. It's all you.
So, find people in your district that are also music elementary teachers.
Communicate with choral and band directors in your district - plan instrument days or choral sing alongs for holiday assembly.
Seek podcasts that really help you in moments of needing some guidance
Seek blog posts and free resources on the internet.
Join your local music teacher association
Seek out TeachersPayTeachers or Classful to help you brainstorm or find ways of teaching a musical concept.
Do not get stuck! Google and surrounding music people are your friend - even if they aren't in your building.
#5 Be prepared for different planning
As a band director, planning is important...but it is VERY different in elementary. Band Directors normally have a long term agenda; contests, concerts, marching shows, going through a method book, etc. Elementary music usually only meets once or twice a week (depending on the school district), which means that your planning will function differently.
You create the pace of your curriculum
Explore curriculums (just like you would explore method books and supplementation resources); Orff, Kodaly, Feierabend, Conversational Solfege. And guess what, you can do all of them and mix them up to meet your needs!
Since students are only seen once or twice a week, you need to definitely reel them in with fun, excitement and connection
Because you are their specials class that day, expect to be "on" the whole day. There is no real release from performing unless you do centers or do a bunch of youtube videos (which, can be good for sick days or sub plans - don't let videos be a crutch!).
TIP: You want about 60%-70% of your song/concept materials each week to repeat the next week (sometimes over the course of a month). New lesson plans should not happen every single week - introduce one new song or concept with you singing, the next week, singing and encourage students to sing, 3rd week you will have students lead the song, etc. It's a much slower process than band in a lot of ways - but the kids eat up repetition and really start to shine in comfort! You will learn quickly what their favorite activities are!
Ultimately, for myself, I have LOVED this new exploration of music in elementary. It's been a breath of fresh air and has made me rethink a lot of what I thought music would be for the younger kids. I'm so grateful that I found this position. Band Directing definitely helped shape me into my elementary era. I guess...I just LOVE MUSIC!
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