Teaching Philosophy

One of my core beliefs as a music teacher is that it is essential to build a relationship between the student and teacher, and to incorporate a growth mindset in the music classroom. It is also of vital importance to be mindful of the cultural backgrounds and beliefs of students, and to encourage each student to embrace the unique opportunities that cultural differences offer.

Fostering inspired learning is another aspect that I believe to be equally important for long term success and growth, not only as a musician, but as a unique, valued & respected global citizen.

Through the music arts we have the opportunity and the obligation to reach the hearts and minds of all, sharing the love and joy that we know, love and experience each and every day.

Sincerely yours,

Steven Mooney

Lesson Plans

Strings

Lesson Plans for the Elementary School and Middle School Grades.

How to hold the bow.

The Bunny Bow Hold.

Students will learn to how to hold a French style Bow used for violin, viola, cello and bass. Demonstration video shows violin example.

String Crossing exercises

Open string exercises for all string instruments.

String crossings incorporating whole notes, half notes and quarter note rhythmic values. Students will be able to play the above rhythmic values with down and up bow strokes as well as combinations.

How to tune the string instruments

Tuning instructions for beginner strings – introduction to using a digital tuner. Students will be able to bring an instrument into pitch and learn the importance of tuning up, not tuning down, to keep the instrument in tune.

Concert Band

Lesson Plans Middle School and High School Band Grades

Concert Band

Lesson Plans Middle School and High School Band Grades

How to read a band chart

Students will be able to recognise the symbols for key signature, time signature, rests, multi measure rests, articulations, identifying 1st and 2nd time endings and how to play them, as well as recognise and follow coda and DS signs.

Rhythm warm ups

Students will warm up on scale studies specific to the band chart. Rhythms used will be excerpts from the score. As a result students will be able to recognise and play familiar rhythms when seen in the score parts.

Dynamics

Students will learn various types of dynamics eg mp, p, f, mf, fff, etc. Students will learn the importance of dynamics as a soloist and as a section player. As a result students will be able to make informed decisions and be able to play specific dynamics notated in the performance scores.

General Music

Lesson Plans for the Elementary and Middle School Grades

Instrument Families

Students are introduced to the 4 instrument families while watching and listening to the classic tale Peter and the Wolf. Students will be able to recall the sounds of the main characters and the instruments / families used to represent them.

Can You Find The Beat?

Students will be introduced to various rhythmic values including the whole note, half note, and quarter notes using diagrams and clapping exercises. Students will be able to find and clap the beat when listening to popular songs.

Introduction to Ukulele performance.

Students are introduced to the historic aspects of the ukulele and work toward playing songs incorporating 2 and 3 chord song progressions using the I V and I iv V progressions. Students will be able to play simple chord structures in solo and group performance settings.

Bucket Drumming Basics

Students learn and apply basic rhythm patterns to the bucket drum and play transcriptions of popular music via instructional videos and class activities. Students will be able to play from memory and from notated music basic rhythmic patterns using bucket drums or hand percussion.

Music Technology

Lesson plans for the Middle School and High School Grades

Artist Portfolio

Students research, compile & present a google slide presentation (15 slides) on an artist of their choice including artist bio, discography and artist influences, and where are they now. Students will be able to present a researched and formatted google slide presentation and reflect on peer questions and constructive criticism related to their presentation.

Multi Media Music Project

Students create a multi media project consisting of composed music, short film or slide show and then create a final product video to be saved as in mp4 format. Students will be able to cover all sides of production including making a short film/slideshow, create a digital composition using DAW and convert to a finished file mp4 format.

Composing for Film

Students create a digital composition using digital composition software including various “hits” to be synced with scenes from the film. Students will be able to set the score to film and create a final mp4 product.