Title – Democracy in the Music Classroom

By – Kyle Inouye

Primary Subject – Music

Secondary Subject – Social Studies

Grade Level – 7-12

Student Representative Council For The Bands

Students often time need a sense of structure and stability. To create that kind of atmosphere I believe that establishing some kind of democracy in the classroom is necessary for great success. By following these steps you can create a classroom that is very obedient and has the ability to run itself, on disciplinary issues.

1) On the first days of school, with your band, create a Student Representative Council For The Bands that will accurately voice student concerns throughout the year. Appointing a…


a. President

b. Vice-president

c. Secretary

d. Treasure

e. Maintenance crew


(see additional page for Councils responsibilities)


2) After establishing a Student Representative Council For The Bands (SRCFB), have the leaders sit down with all of the active directors of the bands to create a set of Rules and Regulations for the year, some will be basic while others are based on students opinions. For example, some basic rules may consist of


a. being present at all concerts outside of class

b. every class period students are to be prepared with instrument and music, while the subjective rules are some like, what is the appropriate attire for concerts and so on. Also set up a consequence action sheet, in time when students break the Rules and Regulations.

3) Present the council members to the band and lay down the set of rules for the year. If any of the rules that were made are broken, the consequence action sheet will provide the necessary disciplinary action that will follow.

4) After the year kicks off with a good structural start, have the SRCFB meet once a week to discuss student concerns among the band program in the school. Then meet with the council every month to address student concerns among the bands. This meeting is also to address any upcoming events with any of the band/orchestras that the directors need some help with.

By setting up this kind of democracy in the music classroom, a teacher is bound for success concerning Rules and Regulations. This also teaches the students how a democracy is supposed to work structurally and fundamentally.

Duties of the Officers

President

a. To effectively communicate with all directors concerning student/teacher issues

b. Run all meetings that are set up between directors and the council

c. Be an effective voice among the students

d. Represent the students voice well

e. Effectively enforce the Rules and Regulations that were set in the beginning of the school year

f. Be present at every class period as well as all council meetings

g. Be a good example for other students to follow!

Vice-president

a. To effectively Communicate with the President on issues that the students have

b. When the president is absent or not present take over all responsibilities that she/he has

c. Organize the schedule of meetings with the council members and directors

d. Set up after school student activities that will encourage students to take part in music outside of the classroom

e. Be present at every class period as well as all council meetings

f. Be a good example for other students to follow!

Secretary

a. Record all minutes from every meeting with the council and directors

b. Effectively inform students to what is going on with decisions among the council

c. Keep order in student issues and with the council in general

d. Be present at every class period as well as all council meetings

e. Be a good example for other students to follow!

Treasurer

a. Keep records of all money transactions dealing with the band program

b. Set up fundraisers for the band program throughout the year

c. Effectively communicate on issues concerning financial stability among the program

d. Be present at every class period as well as all council meetings

e. Be a good example for other students to follow!

Maintenance crew

a. Maintain the instruments quality throughout the year

b. Effectively communicate with directors on instrument repair issues

c. Learn how to do simple repairs on instruments

(ex. Changing pads on clarinets, fixing minor dents in brass instruments, pulling out a stuck mouthpiece, etc.)


d. Be present at every class period as well as all council meetings

e. Be a good example for other students to follow!


(Note: all responsibilities for any position are subject to change on director’s discretion)

E-Mail

Kyle Inouye

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