My students need to see their sheet music displayed on a document camera so that I can guide their music reading skills as they sing or play the piano.
Imagine you have been placed in a situation where everyone around you knows how to read but you don't. Now imagine that you are in high school! That is how my students feel when they enter my chorus/piano class without music reading experience. Give them the tool that teaches them to read music!
The majority of my students are from very rural south Louisiana.
We have one of the highest levels of poverty in our parish and district, yet it is amazing to see how much our school accomplishes. Parents work very hard, long hours and want the best for their children. They love our heritage of good food, music, family and fun!
My Project
Chorus and piano students will be able to see the notes projected from their sheet music/book onto the wall where I can guide them with my pen in reading rhythm, melody, harmony, intervals, symbols, dynamics, fingering, chords etc. Voicing for soprano, alto, tenor, bass is on three and four levels and can be difficult to follow for beginners. By tracing their part as they sing it first with the document camera, I can then know that they will be reading it correctly on their own. Piano students are preparing for two recitals and chorus is preparing for several festival competitions and concerts. This tool will greatly impact my students' ability to independently read music and become successful performing musicians!
I tell my students that reading music makes them smarter musicians.
Anyone can sing or play music by ear. It takes brain power to read the notes which is why there are so many music students scoring high on the SATS. Research shows that reading music has high cognitive benefits. More importantly, some of my students excel only in music and this keeps them in school!
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