One of the classes I’m teaching this year is Music History. It meets once a week, and I talk a little about some composers, play some music, and we have a test. The kids have been receiving it pretty well so far.
I thought it would be pretty easy to prepare: I have notes for teaching this from my first years as a teacher. Back then I got a music history text book that came with CDs. I prepared notes that I wrote on the board, the kids copied them onto papers, and we took a test after finishing each music time period.
It hasn’t been as easy as I thought because I am converting the notes into slide presentations. Now don’t get me wrong – I love preparing slide presentations. It’s just that they take so long. I love finding pictures and graphics that help explain or entertain. And it takes a LONG time. I spend more time preparing one lesson of Music History than I spend on a week’s worth of lessons for other classes.
It’s fun though. I’m going to keep doing it.
This notebook is 24 years old.
Well, I think I just learned more about Bach from reading your notes than I ever did in music history. I bet your lessons are pretty cool – wish I could sit in! How cool that you spend a lot of time making it interesting and don’t just phone it in. 🙂