December 1 ,2015
After teaching Israeli music for so many years and getting such great results from kids and adults. I decided to put these ideas in writing to help other teachers manage their music classes the same way. Just to remind you, kids do not like to come to Hebrew school, (most kids don't like any school). Our job is to make them like what we teach them and take it home with them as well as remember it for many years to come. My students, twenty years later, are still singing the songs I taught them and in fact that is all they remember from Hebrew School days. The first thing I discovered when teaching singing in a foreign language is to pay attention to what the students are hearing as opposed to what they are saying. For example Americans have hard time hearing the guttural "R". They might hear "L" or "G" and will repeat the words as they heard it. It is therefore important to introduce the Hebrew words at first with a bit of an American accent and in time to change it to the correct Israeli accent. Surprisingly, the young students will adjust to the new pronunciation. In order for the kids to look at the music teacher as well as the words that they are learning to sing I use an overhead projector. The words are big and easy to read. When teaching prayers I would use the actual copy of the prayer from the "Sidur" (prayer book) or "Hagada" projected on the screen in front of the kids. It is my opinion and experience (of 25 years of teaching) that kids and even adults will not always keep music on paper. It will get lost crumbled and even made into airplanes. Even when looking at the "Sidur" they would ask many times: "What page?" "Where are we?" this wastes time and interrupt the class. I use the "Sidur" just before a Service rehearsal when it is important for the kids to follow the order of the service. For the younger groups I use transliteration. When they get to 3rd grade I combine the pages with both languages. At 4th grade I will be using Hebrew only. But sometimes for the sake of saving time (I am not a Hebrew Reading Teacher) when I see that the kids will have a hard time learning the new song because most of them can't read Hebrew I would combine the transliteration and then go to Hebrew only. It is very important to keep each grade separately. Especially not to combine the first and second grades. At this age children learn differently and this will not be fair to each of these classes. On the other hand it is better to combine same grade classes so they get the same songs and the same time allowed them for music. They will feel better and less embarrassed (especially the older grades) singing together in big groups. It is important to teach the kids music at least once a week for them to be able to remember and practice the Hebrew reading skills as well as the sight reading of the songs. Except for the five years old who can't pay attention more then 10 minutes at a time each class should get 15 minutes of music each time they come or at least once a week. A Schedule Should be implimented and each class should know exactly when they have music.
Here is a sample schedule: 2 hours - 120 minutes between 7 classes.
K: 4:10 - 4:20
First Grade: 4:20 - 4:35
Second Grade: 4:35 - 4:50
Third Grade: 4:50 - 5:05
Fourth Grade: 5:05 - 5:20
Fifth Grade: 5:20 - 5:35
Sixth Grade: 5:35 - 5:50
When I teach Israeli Music I give the kids the knowledge of both popular Israeli songs, and childrenÕs songs. They learn age-appropriate songs that will teach them Hebrew words, names, and meanings. When they are five years old they will learn body parts and some easy Israeli songs that kids their age will learn. It stays with them for ever. They will sing them in the car pool, at family gatherings, on holidays, and at summer camps. If they ever go to Israel they will sing and find the songs familiar without being embarrassed, because kids still sing them in Israel. At the same time I teach the five years old one or two songs from the prayer book, getting them ready for "Kabalat Shabbat." Some of the songs I teach combine English words translate from Hebrew. As the years pass I add more songs and more prayers from the "Sidur" or "Hagada". I also teach holiday songs about two weeks or a month prior to the holiday, depending on timing available. If I have the time and feel that a song might work well with the kids and will stay in their memory I will introduce an American song I know (I don't know too many) or a Hebrew song with some English words translated from Hebrew. Every time I teach a new song I also Teach the meaning of the song. It would be a good idea for the class teacher to go over the new words when they get back to the class room. I am not the "Hebrew Teacher" or the "Prayer Teacher" of the school, therefore it is very important for the classroom teacher to work on the prayers or reading skills at the classroom time. I would provide the teachers with a printed copy of the songs if they choose to work on reading skills with something the kids love to sing. Every class prepares for a "Kabalat Shabbat Service" once a year. I usually start with the 6th or 7th grade first. They need less time for preparation because of all the years they have been learning but we do still need some times to prepare. The best time to start is always at least one month after the high holidays. The Friday nights services, lead by the children, are a great way to make the kids feel a part of the community and good way to keep people coming to services. After the kids have finished with the Friday Night Service assignment I work with them on more popular songs and they are also ready to learn some Israeli Folk dancing. In Short, if you work as I propose, your school will be a happy place to be and the children will remember more songs as well as know the meanings of them. They will grow to be a part of the comunity, if not leaders of Hebrew services and events. on top of that, the synagogue as well as the school, will benefit manytimes over.
