“Motivation and Discipline”Definitions:

Motivation – consists of whatever causes a student to want to take part in an activity: motivation is a matter of desire.

Discipline – consists of whatever causes a student to conform to rules and complete tasks: discipline is a matter of behavior.

The Problem-The single greatest reason that promising young teachers leave the field of

education is the frustration of dealing with discipline problems.-The issue of discipline is the biggest concern of most prospective teachers.-Discipline is at the top of concerns and issues in most schools today.-Your discipline problems will be different from those of classroom teachers,

who may have only 20 to 25 students. The theories, strategies and techniques taught in classroom management courses may not apply to a musical ensemble

rehearsal with 30 -100 students of different grade levels holding ‘noise makers’ in their hands.What to do:

-You will need to understand the basic theories of discipline and motivation and how to modify them to fit your teaching circumstances – not to mention your personality, level of confidence, preparedness and other variables.

-One way to stack the deck in your favor is to be well prepared and task-oriented.

“Less talking, more singing; less teaching, more learning” [Students actively engaged in something they find enjoyable and of worth seldom cause discipline problems]

“Motivation and Discipline”What to do: cont.

-In Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1993), in Talented Teenagers: The Roots of Success and Failure, states that:

“Whether a teenager will want to devote a great deal of time to studying chemistry or music depends also on the quality of the experience he or she derives from working in the lab or practicing an instrument…. The main reason they do what they do is that they enjoy it.”

- If learning depends on wanting to learn, then teaching is the art of making students want to learn.

Motivation – consists of whatever causes a student to want to take part in an activity: motivation is a matter of desire.Discipline – consists of whatever causes a student to conform to rules and

complete tasks: discipline is a matter of behavior.

-Motivated students are disciplined, because they monitor their own behavior through healthy self discipline. Unmotivated students need discipline imposed by a teacher.

-How effective is externally-imposed discipline?

-Motivation is, at all times an individual choice.-The truth is: we cannot give students motivation, we can give them a learning environment from which they will take motivation. That in turn, generates self-discipline, which is infinitely more effective than any discipline we can give

them externally.

“Motivation and Discipline”

How motivated are you as a teacher?

-The truth is that unless you are motivated to learn and grow (and to help your students learn and grow) you will not be able to create a learning environment that they find motivating.

Csikszentmihalyi wrote: pg159Students will learn only if they are motivated. The motivation could be extrinsic – the desire to

get a well paying job after graduation but learning essential to a person’s self must be intrinsically rewarding. Unless a person enjoys the pursuit of knowledge, learning will remain a toll to be set aside as soon as it is no longer needed. Therefore we cannot expect our children to become truly educated until we ensure that teachers know not only how to provide information but also how to spark the joy of learning.

-To spur students to be motivated you will need to keep the bar high but reachable, and remind them periodically of your expectations, but, that is only one side of the equation.

-As a teacher, you will find yourself engaged in balancing acts:-trying to challenge students without discouraging them;-trying to make success possible without boring them; -trying to lead them to worthy educational objectives while being faithful

to as many of their personal objectives as possible.

“Motivation and Discipline”

Learning Interferences: Anxiety and Boredom

-Anxiety occurs primarily when teachers expect too much from students.-Boredom occurs when teachers expect too little.

-When curricular expectations are out of sync with students’ abilities, not only does motivation decrease, but also achievement.-Realistically, some students misbehaviors are attributable to factors other than your learning environment.-Students bring outside burdens and problems with them to class.-While creating a motivating learning environment is your first line of defense

against student misbehavior and boredom, you will need to be alert to student's personal problems as well.

-Your first reaction to misbehaver, the, must be to understand its source. When the source is you or your teaching, you have the power to make immediate improvements. When the source is external to you, you may have to seek help from counselors or administrators.

“Motivation and Discipline”

Some Solutions:

-The best discipline device is to be well prepared for every rehearsal and class presentation.

-Teachers who are fully prepared for class will encounter fewer surprises and accomplish more of their goals.

Rehearsal plan:

Plan what you want to do.Plan what could go wrong.Plan how to fix what could go wrong.

-Anticipating problems – their solutions – helps prevent most discipline problems in the rehearsal.

-”Perhaps the heart of the matter lies not in class size or differences u ability, but in the music teacher who doesn’t know precisely what to do once attendance is taken and the class is quiet.”

-pg.160 Hiam Ginott, bottom of page.

“Motivation and Discipline”

Some Solutions:

CONSISTENCY

-Consistency is a large key to creating a motivating classroom environment.-Consistent about enforcement of all classroom rules, but your interactions with

students, your educational expectations of them, and you personal attitude must all be consistent from day to day.

-Treat your students with courtesy and avoid “temper tantrums” in rehearsals.-Fine music is not made in an environment of fear and conducting is done with a

delicate baton, not a heavy club.-Young students rarely make errors on purpose. They are usually honest mistakes,

caused by lack of experience, the awkwardness of unfamiliar instruments and positions, the inherent mysteries of notation, or tragically often, the failure of the

instructor to make hi meaning clear.-Students will behave better if you are clear in your expectations an instructions, if

you display patience, and if you encourage private practice.-Besides curricular and classroom issues, you will need to think about the effect of

your personal relationships with students on their motivation, discipline, and over all learning experience.

“Motivation and Discipline”

Some Specific Suggestions to Enhance the Learning Environment:

Know the names of all your students and use them in rehearsal.Choose a balance of fine music that students will enjoy rehearsing and performingBe organized and well prepared. Everything should have it’s place!Start rehearsals on time and end on time.Start your rehearsals only after you have everyone's attention.Treat students with the same courtesy you ask of them.Talk primarily through your baton, secondarily through verbalization.Keep rehearsals moving and everyone involved as much as possible.Display a positive attitude and a good sense of humor. Avoid sarcasm: students sometimes misunderstand and think you are serious!Give clear assignmentsPraise students publicly, but correct behavior problems privately when possible.Try to solve your own discipline problems.Keep your classroom rules simple, post them, enforce them.Give students the security of knowing what you expect of them.

“Motivation and Discipline”

Major Events

Festivals and Contests or Festival vs. Contest

-Participation in music festivals or contests should not be a matter of blindly following tradition. But rather should relate to your personal philosophy of music education and whether it is in the best interest of your band or orchestra students.

-Working together can be valuable experience for you and your students.-It is also an opportunity to receive and independent evaluation of your performance.-Although they can be a valuable tool they should not be the focus of a program.-It is important that everyone understand that this is just an evaluation by three or

four adjudicators of one performance by your ensemble on one day!!!-Continued evaluation of the total program over the course of many months or even

years is a more valid and valuable evaluation.

Festival vs. Contest-Often are interchangeable, but are actually two different events.

-Both have:Required concert performance evaluated by three judges.Optional or required sight-reading portion by fourth judge

FESTIVALS-Ensembles are given a “Divisional rating” based aon a certain performance

standard

CONTEST-Ensembles are given a numerical rating and placed in numerical order.

“Motivation and Discipline”

Major Events

FESTIVALS-Ensembles are given a “Divisional rating” based on a certain performance standard-Division I : Excellent or Superior-Division II : Good -Division III : Fair-Division IV : Poor-Division V : Unsatisfactory

CONTEST-Ensembles are given a numerical rating and placed in numerical order.-Has a “first place” winner.

Adjudication is usually based on :ToneIntonationRhythmTechniqueInterpretation

Awarded letter grades. Pg 165

Know the philosophy of contests or festivals in your state. Know performance standards. Plan to listen to other ensembles. Share tapes and comments where appropriate.

“Motivation and Discipline”

Major Events

FESTIVAL HOSTING-Can be a very rewarding experience for all those involved.-Hosting eliminates transportation costs for your school.-Gives administration, faculty, parents and students insight into your world.

Key is organization:Form LettersTime LinesVolunteer student and parent helpInstructions

Pg 167.

Inform your teachers and administration of what is about to happen!Ask teachers if you may use their classrooms.Respect their property and space.Get good student workers to help. Enlist Jr. and Sr. high band members.Specific instructions for student positions.

“Motivation and Discipline”

Major Events

Suggestions for Festival Performances

Do’s and Don’ts for Festival Day1.Train your crew carefully. Setting up the stage for your performance must be orderly and well planned.2. Do not play a chorale on stage just before your performance. The warm up room is the place for chorales. Only tuning pitch on stage.3. Require uniformity and conformity in ensemble dress.4. Be positive and supportive. Do not be negative, and do not scowl!5. Arrange ensemble just as at home.6. Make sure percussion and string bass sections are positioned in their regular placement.7. Remind percussionists to stand by their instruments for the entire performance.8. Make sure music is in performance order before you begin.9. Watch time constraints.10. Remember it is a festival or a contest and not a life or death situation!! PERSPECTIVE!!

“Motivation and Discipline”

Major Events

Ensemble Tours-Usually sightseeing tour with one or more performances. Through a

sposored tour company or festival.-Can be used as a motivator or as a reward.-What is the purpose of the tour or trip?-2-3 day tours-4-5 day tours best if taken over weekends.-Make sure you get administrations permission-Keep cost reasonable.-Enlist the help of parents for fund raising and money laundering!!!-Pg. 179 – 192-Get medical forms-Chaperone list-Rooming list-Itinerary-Phone tree for arrival-Emergency cash-Etc., etc.

“Motivation and Discipline”

Major Events

Competition for Music Groups-Historically, these competitions have served a useful purpose by generating interest

and promoting high standards. Beyond a certain point, however, their influence may become less positive when it produces cutthroat competition or when it undermines the balance of the program by balancing excessive emphasis on certain specialized aspects.

“It is easier to be better than someone else than to be the best we can be.”

Turn the competitive spirit inward and, rather than using it to outdistance an opponent, could it be used as a measuring stick of self-improvement?

Competition can be an effective motivator of middle and high school students.