Music Express and Grief

[whiteboardtension]

Hi all,

I'm halfway though a one day a week covering an NQT's time out.

As part of the day I've been lumbered with music in the form of 'Music Express' for my year four class. The thing is my Dad died four weeks ago and the last thing I want to do is sing the bl**dy 'I'm a gnu song' when the need for money is the only thing motivating me to endure a days teaching anyway. I'm not in the mood to sign,
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and be funny at the moment (it's not my style at the best of times anyway and this type of taking my mind off it' doesn't do it for me).

Any tips on having a more
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er 'animals' music theme until the end of term will be very much appreciated. I'm considering being open with the NQT and asking for something else to do in that slot. It's bad enough sitting as lump of legality in hall as school does it's whole school singing last thing.

bw,

WBT - wishing I could run away to a place by the sea and work out who I am again

[Gnomoospan]

Oh bog
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WBT, sounds awful and as I teach that to Year 4 I know how jolly it has to be. Not sure what else to suggest as we HAVE to do it, maybe Saint-Saens carnival of the animals? I would talk to the NQT and see if you could do RE or something instead, be good for her to do some Music in her NQT year anyway.

[Joan]

I am so sorry about your dad, really and truthfully sorry. How old was he and what were the circumstances? You don't have to reply to that one of course.

It was after my mum's death that I resigned from full time permanent teaching because I knew then, life was about more than teaching and the other hidden and mega stresses that have become about being a teacher. That's when I became a supply teacher to keep some money coming in.

Bereavement is a horrible but natural thing and the teaching system in one way or another can totally mess up the process of bereavement, not supportive at all. Amazing really because working with people is about relationships, understanding cooperation, support, respect, honesty and realism.


Take care. One day you will maybe smile at the whole situation but not yet I guess.

[ruby_tuesday]

I'm really sorry to hear your news, its difficult to find something comforting to say, thinking of you though.

I'm afraid I really can't help with your music problem, I've used music express in year 5 but struggled, I'm very musically challenged! Hipefully Nutty will see your post, she seems to be a music genius.

Take care x

[NuttySupplier]

Hi WBT, sorry about your
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news.

As far as music goes... I really think you ought to do as G'span suggests and swop lessons.. other than that, 2 options spring to mind immediately:

1.
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have a new DVD/CD-ROM out on Carnival of the Animals. It's £60, but well worth asking the Music Co-ord if they'd be interested, great value for money... I've got year 1, 3 and 6 using it next year on different levels for Music and Science, and I think out year 4 will use it for PE (Indian Dance). If you approach them and they're interested, would be more than happy to send promo material out to you.

2. An easier solution: Disney's Fantasia DVD - borrow it, don't try and buy it, it's expensive. There're quite a few pieces on there set to animal animation, probably enough work for rest of your topic: listen to a piece, decide which animal it sounds like, watch it,
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and appraise. Same sort of thing you would do with Carnival. Music curriculum promotes children listening to music for longer periods of time, most chart music is a
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of minutes, but mine will now quite happily sit for 6 minutes listening to classical, imaging all sorts of images in their heads, they're well into Fantasia!

Hope this helps.
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