Music Educators During COVID: Teaching through a screen

Posted: Tue, Jul 28, 2020 11:45 AM

When Iowa schools moved to online learning in March, educators were thrown into the deep end. There were no answers about how to best conduct online classes, and on top of that, many music classes rely heavily on live communication and demonstration. In the end, the ease of transition was heavily influenced by the class format and grade level being taught.

At Luther College, many music courses are taught in a lecture-based format and, as a result, were able to continue in a fairly similar fashion when going online. Luther Professor of Music Dr. Juan Tony Guzmán comments:

"In 'History of Jazz and Orchestra Methods,' the courses I had to teach online, the curriculum did not change. We kept the same content, assignments, expectations, and evaluations. Even though my students were throughout the USA and in Portugal with different time zones, we kept the same daily class schedule. However, I was flexible and accommodating with assignment due dates and tutoring sessions. It worked well. Students appreciated having structure, regularity, and clear expectations."

At the middle school level however, many music classes are ensemble-oriented. When the move to online learning took place, thirty minutes of the three-hour school day were allotted to exploratory classes such as art or music, and participation was optional.

Regardless, many music educators created instructional videos to review or teach new skills and hosted Zoom meetings where students would mute their microphones and play along with a recording. Teachers also encouraged students to keep musically active by playing or singing for their families, neighbors, and pets.

With performance opportunities greatly reduced, emphasis was placed on non-performance-oriented aspects of music. Decorah Middle School Vocal Music/Choir Teacher Dean Beckman took an online learning route that combined music appreciation with singing fundamentals including sight-singing and rhythm exercises.

In preparing for the fall, the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) put together planning guides for educators regarding classroom and studio instruction. These planning guides include tips for online teaching, physical safety for face-to-face and hybrid instruction, ensemble instruction, and teacher and student well-being.

To view the ASTA planning guides, click here.