Creating a Student Center
One way for students to have more ownership in the music classroom is for them to feel the space is just as much theirs as it is yours.
One way for students to have more ownership in the music classroom is for them to feel the space is just as much theirs as it is yours. You can accomplish this is by creating a student center. The student center is an area in the classroom that is accessible to students, containing resources they might otherwise ask the teacher for during class. In a music classroom, this could include school supplies like pencils, scissors, and crayons, as well as music-specific tools like valve oil, cork grease, and string instrument shoulder rests. Extra copies of sheet music is also a great idea. The student center allows students to take initiative, solve their own problems (like what to do about a broken pencil or missing sheet music), and work independently.
Suggestions for Music Classes
Teachers may even want to have students take responsibility for maintaining the student center. In this case, provide students with a checklist or instructions on how to organize the student center and what to do when supplies are running low.
Use these templates as a starter for your own student center, adding resources and supplies as needed. You can even use the templates as a checklist for students who will help maintain the student center throughout the school year.
