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Walter Bitner

Off The Podium: Sumer Is Icumen In

April 7, 2020 by Walter Bitner Leave a Comment

When I was an elementary and middle school music teacher (1991 – 2007), I structured a lot of my curriculum – especially the songs I chose to teach my students – around the seasons.  While it may seem like an obvious educational strategy, I think it is important to stress the value of this.  Children in […]

Filed Under: Off The Podium Tagged With: canon, Singing, Sumer Is Icumen In, Walter Bitner

Off The Podium: BWV 106 “Actus Tragicus”

March 24, 2020 by Walter Bitner 2 Comments

During the eleven-day period from March 21 – 31 it has been my practice for many years to spend some time each day reflecting on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, as I have written about here. Our friend Sebastian was born this time of year in 1685 – on March 21 or March 31, […]

Filed Under: Off The Podium Tagged With: Actus Tragicus, BWV 106, Gustav Leonhardt, Johann Sebastian Bach, Off The Podium, Walter Bitner

Off The Podium: Herring’s Head

March 10, 2020 by Walter Bitner Leave a Comment

Herring’s Head is a cumulative folksong that I taught to and sung with students of all ages at many schools over the course of my teaching career. It features humorous lyrics that deliver a conservation message about whole animal or “nose to tail” eating (mindful consumption). Herring’s Head‘s call-and-response structure, extroverted attitude, and whimsy made it […]

Filed Under: Off The Podium Tagged With: cumulative songs, Off The Podium, Walter Bitner

Off The Podium: Universal Music Education

March 3, 2020 by Walter Bitner Leave a Comment

As we enter the third decade of the twenty-first century, the time has come for music educators to stop pussyfooting around and advocate for Universal Music Education. Indeed, it is long past time. We should stop wasting valuable time – time that belongs to us and to the children in our care – we should […]

Filed Under: Off The Podium Tagged With: Music Ed, Off The Podium, Universal Music Education, Walter Bitner

Off The Podium: What Your Students Will Remember, Part 2

February 25, 2020 by Walter Bitner Leave a Comment

Continued from What Your Students Will Remember, Part 1 Creating Lasting Memories One of the great boons (and perhaps, banes) of being a music teacher is that we teach a performing art, and the school year follows a rhythm determined by a schedule of seasonal performances. This was true of my teaching experience no matter […]

Filed Under: Off The Podium Tagged With: Off The Podium, Walter Bitner

Off The Podium: What Your Students Will Remember, Part 1

February 18, 2020 by Walter Bitner Leave a Comment

At some point early in my teaching career someone told me: They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. …or something like that. I don’t remember who said it or when, honestly. Someone might have quoted it at a faculty meeting, or as part of a motivational […]

Filed Under: Off The Podium Tagged With: community, Off The Podium, Teaching, Walter Bitner

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