Joyful Connections in the Music Classroom

by Sal Rios

CMEA Elementary Music TK-5/6 Representative

Through our transitions from learning in different spaces, something in-between, and back to in-person instruction, the role that the music classroom plays is more important than ever. I am not only referring to the effects that learning music plays on the developing brain, but also the joy of music making and connecting with others. There are times when we are focused on an academic goal or performance deadline and forget to highlight the joyful connection opportunities embedded into our curriculum.

Connecting Students

Making music, whether it is in a general music, band, choir, or orchestral setting, involves important social interactions that are built into what we teach daily. Let’s allow joyful social connections to flourish through opportunities for collaboration and discussion among students. As we’ve probably heard before, students might not remember the specific lesson or piece they played, but rather the way it made them feel and the relationships that grew from these experiences. Give students moments to laugh and giggle through play, alongside the purely academic instruction. Allow moments to be silly and connect with students who they might not interact with outside of the music classroom.

Connecting the Music

As music educators, we have a profound impact on our students’ life-long music interactions. Often, we are the only formal music education students receive. It is crucial that while students learn to read, write, and think musically, they do so in a joyous environment. Let us program music that challenges our young musicians, but also brings a smile to their face when everything locks into place. Bring in content from their world. Extract rhythmic and melodic elements from the things they already enjoy, bridging the gap between academic music and the music at home. Have students remember their time in the music classroom with joyful memories of movement and creative expression where they also learned to be musically literate.

“Often a single experience will open the young soul to music for a whole lifetime. This experience cannot be left to chance; it is the duty of the school to provide it.” -Zoltán Kodály

Connecting Teachers

The music classroom provides a space where students are no longer only consumers of music, but creators. The role of the teacher can often get lost in our responsibilities to get students to reach the performance goals. Alongside teaching literacy and performance skills, we are also active music makers with our students. Throughout this new school year, let’s remember to be in the moment as we create beautiful music with our students every day. The finish line might seem like the culminating performance, but even in rehearsal, we can let those joyous musical moments shine through. Let’s remember to celebrate the little victories too.

We thrive on connecting with others. Our connections to other educators are just as important. There are many opportunities to connect through professional organizations like this one. There is joy in sharing resources and connecting with the teaching experiences of others around our community and throughout the state.

As we move forward, we have a unique position to purposefully seek opportunities for joyous connections every day. Let’s connect!