It typically takes years of experience to build an effective rehearsal routine. MENC member Dennis Granlie has utilized his years of classroom experience and observation to develop rehearsal tricks that can be used by all teachers, experienced or not.

Some of Granlie's top tips include:

• Use warm-up to gain focus, teach tone and intonation, not to build technique. Don't allow the warm-up to become predictable. Give students a reason to look at the conductor.
• Design silent exercises for percussionists to stretch and loosen muscles. Make percussion folders for each piece, rather than for each player.
• Rhythm is the basis for music reading. Do daily rhythm exercises for all age/ability levels.
• The one doing the most work is the one learning the most. Don't tell students "how it goes"; make them tell YOU how it goes.
• Have the plan on the board and make the kids accountable. Transition between pieces should take only seconds.
• Tell the students why you are rehearsing a particular section, or ask them why you stopped.
• Use analogies to reinforce concepts.
• Don't rehearse mistakes! Have kids mark corrections in their music to avoid practicing the same mistake over and over. Practice makes permanent.
• Diagnose and prescribe. When you diagnose a problem, give a prescription to correct it.
• Be brief! Rehearsals should include at least 70% or more performing vs. 30% or less talking.
   

For more tips and details, view Granlie's entire article on Classroom Management.

Part 1 - Top Ten Classroom Management Sins
Part 2 - Just Add Passion

Dennis Granlie is a music consultant with 11 years of classroom observations as a music supervisor. Granlie is currently a mentor for the Montana Music Educators Association and has observed and mentored another 80 teachers in the past 3 1/2 years. He is editor of the Montana MEA state magazine, Cadenza.

- Becky Spray, February 4, 2009 © MENC: The National Association for Music Education