Today my 7th grade boys sight read during sectionals. Like...all by themselves. Like, I sang DO for them, and they took it from there - including hand signs. Can I get a WOOT WOOT?!
I've been using solfege in warm ups since I began teaching, but this past summer I took a class on how to teach music literacy using solfege. I started with baby steps - using the signs "in the air" and then having them read on the white board. Two weeks ago I started easing them into reading actual music. We've been working on the same freakin' example (about 10 measures) using Do - Sol. Well today in sectionals the guys just went to town! I guess they were a bit board with that example and asked to go on to the next two...so we did. They did both examples at about 90%. THEN...nope it doesn't stop there...THEN!!! one boy asks if he can lead the other guys instead of me. WHAT? Of course, you can, buddy!!
How freakin' great is this??? I'm not sure if I'm more excited that they're actually learning how to read music, or that they're really excited and having fun with it. Oh happy day!!
GOOOOOOO NANCOIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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