3 Tips for Teaching Music Online, From Teachers College, Columbia University

Sponsored by Teachers College, Columbia University Master of Arts in Music and Music Education

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the face of education for all disciplines, but it has presented unique challenges for music teachers. In addition to dealing with increased stress, we have had to navigate unique logistical challenges, like figuring out how to teach, rehearse, and perform in a virtual environment.

Faculty and alumni from Teachers College, Columbia University recently discussed how they came together to create an entirely virtual ensemble, and they shared some highlights from their experience, as well as advice for how to overcome some of the challenges presented by teaching music online.

male singer rehearsing at mic

Photo: Bob O’Lary

You can read a few of the tips they offered below, and get the full version in their Q&A article: Teaching Music Online.

 

Prepare to Adapt Your Pedagogy 

Jeanne Goffi-Flynn, ED.D., oversees performances at Teachers College. She explained that when TC first tried to create its virtual ensemble, they faced some challenges. Initially, the plan was to have students submit individual video performances to one compilation person, so the individual clips could be put all together.

However, this quickly overloaded the compiler’s computer. According to Dr. Goffi-Flynn, this experience helped to drive home the importance of adaptability. Teachers may not be able to replicate the exact same lessons that they would teach in person, but they can make adjustments to achieve the same results.

“We still want to have good teaching strategies that promote engagement and a community mindset.”

“When looking at material versus pedagogy and comparing online to in-person classes, the pedagogy is truly what’s changing,” Goffi-Flynn said. “We can’t have 25 people singing at the same time. But the content is still the same. We can still do warm-ups, we still want to understand how the voice works, and we still want to have good teaching strategies that promote engagement and a community mindset.”

 

Try Your Own Lessons First

For Professor Drew Coles, who teaches digital arranging, keyboard, and music entrepreneurship at Teachers College, the best way to iron out the flaws when your lessons need to change is to put yourself in your students’ shoes.

female singer rehearsing

Photo: Howard Rockwin

 

“Try everything yourself,” Coles said. “Anything that you make your students do, you should do first. Get a group of friends together and walk through the process. By bringing the project from beginning to end, you’ll learn a lot about how to run it in the classroom. If you don’t work through things on your own, you’ll have no idea what hurdles your students face or how to address them.”

 

Use Music to Connect with Each Other

Although you’ll no doubt face challenges as you create virtual learning experiences, the end result can be transformative for both you and your students. For Natalie Fabian, who recently graduated from TC’s music education master’s program, practicing together and collaborating on performance provided a sense of normalcy and offered a way to connect with other musicians when it wasn’t feasible to meet in person.

“Music is a great way for people to heal, especially in challenging times. In this respect, the rehearsals became very grounding.”

“The most rewarding part of this was watching the finished product and finally seeing the work come together,” Fabian said. “Music is a great way for people to heal, especially in challenging times. In this respect, the rehearsals became very grounding. For myself and for others who I’ve spoken with, the rehearsals were often a highlight of the week. And then, at the end of the semester, we were presented with beautiful videos of everyone singing simultaneously, a symbol of the hard work coming to fruition.”

 

Did this blog spur new ideas for your music program? Share them on Amplify! Interested in reprinting this article? Please review the reprint guidelines.

The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) provides a number of forums for the sharing of information and opinion, including blogs and postings on our website, articles and columns in our magazines and journals, and postings to our Amplify member portal. Unless specifically noted, the views expressed in these media do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Association, its officers, or its employees.

November 18, 2020. © National Association for Music Education (NAfME.org)

October 2024 Teaching Music magazine cover. Read the all new Teaching Music magazine!

Published Date

November 18, 2020

Category

  • Technology

Copyright

November 18, 2020. © National Association for Music Education (NAfME.org)

Wenger StageTek from classroom to stage learn more
The 78th Midwest Clinic. December 18-21, 2024. Chicago, Illinois. Register now! 4 days, 100 plus clinics, 400 plus exhibits, 50 plus performances
William Carey University 3 fully online graduate degrees at an affordable price