Submitted by JoDee Dean, Gilbert, Arizona

Idea posted April 18, 2005

Here are a couple of ideas to motivate and get your fifth graders to sing with enthusiasm:

  1. Get your students singing in front of an audience. Ask their teacher to come watch them or ask the next class to watch the previous class. Ask the principal, aides, nurse, anybody to watch them sing a song. (I've been known to take kids into the lunchroom and sing something we are working on.)
  2. Have half the class sing for the other half, boys sing for the girls, etc.
  3. I'm not against bribing. The show must go on! Get the teachers' support. If the class does "so and so," the teacher will do "so and so." Utilize your classroom teachers' reward systems (i.e., good behavior in specials equals a marble or two added to the jar. Once the jar is full the class gets a reward).
  4. I tend to be very animated, expressive, and in their faces. Move around; walk up and down the rows. Give directions and expect them to comply. You know, like "SMILE!" "Sing through your eyes," "Raise your eyebrows," "Open your mouth," "Watch me," "Everybody sing!" and "Have fun!" If you want them to smile or open their mouths and they won't, walk around with a large hand mirror and put it in their faces. This brings smiles and laughter. Now all I have to say is, "I'm getting my mirror," and they start laughing.
  5. Compliment a popular kid on something you want them all to be doing. That kid may not even be doing what you want, but complimenting him on his dancing, smile, etc., usually encourages the other kids to follow.
  6. Be positive! Tell them the things they are doing well like, "You know the words to the songs," "You're always watching me," etc.
  7. Encourage, encourage, encourage! I remind them of their other performances and how good they felt after working so hard and doing a good job. I remind them how much their parents and principal will be impressed with them and how good they will look on the video. When they sing really well, I give them a huge smile and thumbs up. When they are working on something hard I'll say, "I can't believe you are are getting this piece! It's meant for middle schoolers (or high schoolers)!" The students get really proud of themselves. Sometimes if they give me goosebumps, I'll rub my arms and wink and they know they've done a good job. One girl said recently in choir, "You're crying and it's not even at the performance." "I am not," I said, laughing. The students laughed; they feed off you.
  8. Videotaping the class is a good idea. We videotape the concerts. Our kids know they will be on TV as we have a tradition of watching the tapes in the music class following the performance. Since we don't have mirrors on the walls like at a dance studio, I tell them that I am their mirror. I see them all and want them to look good on stage. I tell them that if they do what I say, they will be wonderful on stage. I tell them how many years I've been performing and teaching, so I know what I'm doing. I also say, "Have I ever made you look bad on stage?" It takes time to develop a trusting relationship with your students.
  9. Be honest with them. Tell them if there is a problem and that you need their help. You want them to be good on stage but you can't make them do what you instruct. They need to decide to cooperate and work together. Let a couple of kids give you their opinions on how they are doing. Ask them, "How can we be better?" Make the problem their problem, and let them know that you are there to help in any way you can. Remind them that it's their faces on stage since the parents will only see the back of you. (You will probably have kids who will be negative, but don't give them too much attention. Focus on the constructive.)
  10. Be as clear as possible to your students of what you want from them. If they have not had a lot of previous performing experience, they may not know how to be expressive. Practice specifics.