TL;DR:

• Stop by and observe the performing arts department at your school.
• Music is eternal and music is a great expression of one’s personal identity.
• The power of music is evident after the last year without live music to enjoy.

Preparation for In-Person Performances

A few days ago, I had the pleasure to observe a wind orchestra class. This was the first time since March 9, 2020 that I saw the full wind orchestra. All but 2 quarantined students were in person. I became emotional hearing the power of the instruments as students practiced Queen songs for their performance at graduation.

Something We’ve Missed

I am, by trade, a language teacher turned administrator (and blogger, podcaster, presenter, etc!). But back in high school and during the early years of my college experience, I was heavily involved in choir and music. I have never played instruments well (I tried both the flute and piano), but singing is something I have always loved. However, there has been no choir for us adults due to the pandemic. I am hoping we’ll be able to pick back up rehearsals in the fall.

Stop by and observe the performing arts department at your school. This is an area where conductors have had to be especially creative in having students wear masks and face shields and stay distanced this year. Click To Tweet

Get Into Other Parts of Your Building!

It is always a joy to hear live music played by talented students, whatever level school you may work at. If you’re in a teaching role that doesn’t currently have peer observations as part of your in-building professional learning, check out this previous blog post where I wrote about taking charge of your own PD: Be a Leader Who Empowers Your Staff – Teach Better. Perhaps you could discuss the advantages of in-building PD with your team as you come back after summer break, and implement it for next year.

[scroll down to keep reading]

The Power of Music: How Playing Instruments Activate Students’ Neural Pathways

Stop by and observe the performing arts department at your school. This is an area where conductors have had to be especially creative in having students wear masks and face shields and stay distanced this year. Now, more than ever, we can appreciate the dedication students put into practicing and refining their skills. If you work in a school that doesn’t offer any performing arts for your students, check out this video on how playing an instrument benefits your brain. This article by Joseph Rutkowski is a great example of why students should be involved in music classes.

The Power of Music: Take in a Concert!

Furthermore, I hope you’ll be able to take in some live music this summer in your community. Virtual concerts have been plentiful these past 15 months, but there is something special about the ambiance of live music. It reminds us of what we took for granted from the “pre” times.  Music is eternal and music is a great expression of one’s personal identity!

---

About Dana Goodier

Dr. Dana Goodier has 20 years of experience in education. She has taught World Languages and English and worked as a middle school administrator. She completed her doctorate degree (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership early 2020. For her dissertation, she researched reasons parents were opting their students out of high-stakes testing at middle schools and how that affected the district accreditation rating. She often speaks at conferences, providing educators with techniques to minimize off-task behavior and to increase time on task. She is the host of the “Out of the Trenches” podcast, which features educators who share their stories of resiliency. Follow her on Twitter @danagoodier and visit her website at: www.danagoodier.com