Music appreciation at the high school level is often (but not always, remember!) the last-ditch effort of some kids to get in that fine arts credit when they "hate" to sing and can't do art with a hoot. I'm stereotyping, I know, but unfortunately, that does happen. You also get some super kids who just love music so much they want to tackle an extra music class. My own stab at high school music appreciation was 15 years ago. I had a class of three and no textbook. Being green, I lectured from a college copy of Kamien that I bummed somewhere and took off. And you know what, we had some of the liveliest discussions I've ever had with a group of kids. Their interest level was higher than that of some of my band students.

OK, How 'bout Some Ideas Here?

• Centers or Stations. I use these in the elementary level, but there's no reason why this can't be used and adapted to the high school level. Some that would work: a listening center (including recordings that have both dialogue and listening examples), a computer center (preferably with a MIDI-compatible keyboard) with composition and theory software such as MusicAce, a regular keyboard center (Use headphones. You can purchase an inexpensive splitter for headphones and be able to put two people on a keyboard at a time), worksheet centers, and reading centers. Have a list of questions for them to answer when their centers are completed, so that they will be accountable for what they do.
• Do a unit on keyboards. Can't talk your school board into buying some? Have students bring their own, and lock them securely! This is the best way to apply any theory you are teaching, especially with the visuals for intervals, octaves, and chords.
• In units on composers and music history, challenge them to come up with a creative presentation, much like a speech teacher would. This could be anything from acting out the life of a particular musician, to setting up a mock talk show, to preparing their own slide presentations. Let them get creative! Get ahold of a book like "Lives of the Musicians", and make sure you cover the weird and unusual sides of composers so that students can see their "human" sides, too. It makes it more interesting when they see composers as more as stuffy, powdered-wig strangers from the past.
• Play a little Mr. Holland, and find pop or rock songs that are based on classical themes or motifs.
• Get into composing. Yes, I said composing, or at least, a little orchestration. A very cool piece of software to purchase is Freestyle. This program will enable students to alter MIDI files they have downloaded from the Internet with whatever sounds are available on your MIDI keyboard. Imagine, throwing in bird whistles on Star Trek! But, I digress. The program enables the students to see the music by contour as well as by notation, and also enables them to do their own recording. Another fun project: using tape recorders, have the students record environmental sounds (please, please set the guidelines ahead of time so there's no Dumb and Dumber wannabe's) and record the sounds into the computer via CoolEdit. This program will enable the students to manipulate the sounds to such an extend that they won't even recognize them. (John Cage, move over).
• Create a percussion ensemble. If you can't get access to the less-expensive percussion auxilary instruments, order some elementary level ones, just enough for your class. When you've been teaching your class rhythm patterns, they can break up into groups and create 4 measures in 4/4 time. A conductor will be needed, and the aim of the game is to end together!

The following is from: Mr. Kelly Demoline - Music Technology Coordinator School of Music Brandon University: I've taken advantage of multi-media technologies to enhance my students' learning of music history. I find that when I include graphics or text that focus students' attention on specific areas while the music is playing, they are able to learn more about the music. Competing with not only the visual medium of TV but also the interactive elements of video games is not easy. Most students aren't prepared to just sit and listen. I've used a number of commercial CD-ROMs that help students focus on specific aspects of the music, while providing them with the important contextual information (what the music is about, why it was composed, etc.) Some of the CD-ROMs. I've used even include games that test students' listening skills! Additionally, I have made my own listening lessons using PowerPoint 97.

Teaching Music Appreciation doesn't have to be an invasion of the Body Snatchers. You might find out that it could be your most fun class! Next month, the topic will be Fund-Raising Ideas. Future topics include: Applying the National Standards at the Secondary Level, Discipline, Grant Writing, Selecting Solo Literature, Making Websites for your ensemble....just for starters. Your contributions either on these topics or ideas on other topics won't just be appreciated-they're a vital and necessary part of this website. Topics in this section include any aspect of teaching middle school and high school music, including band, choral, orchestra, and general. If you have something to contribute, please submit it. It will be greatly appreciated and used!