The Yellow Board

All beginner percussion ADHD....

Posted by Help!! on 11/2/2020, 1:25 pm

I am losing my mind. Everytime we go over a new concept they go “I don’t get it” or they are too busy fidgeting to pay attention to everyone!

I’m slowly losing faith in my teaching abilities and confidence in this whole teaching thing...

Offer me some help please!

Re: All beginner percussion ADHD....

Posted by True story on 11/13/2020, 3:17 am, in reply to "All beginner percussion ADHD...."

I know a small school director who uses the following method as part of the process of placing beginners on percussion.
He asks who is wanting to try out for percussion. He gives each one of them a paper clip. He then proceeds to place all the other students on instruments. After that he has the students who want percussion turn in their paperclip. He only takes from the group that ones who present him a non bent up paper clip.

Re: All beginner percussion ADHD....

Posted by Duh on 11/4/2020, 2:41 pm, in reply to "All beginner percussion ADHD...."

Make sure you are treating them like they're really an important part of the band. A lot of us fail to do that to some extent with percussion, and they respond accordingly.

Also, you might try giving them more complex rhythms to try. They will probably pick them up quickly. They may be bored playing quarter notes and rests...

Re: All beginner percussion ADHD....

Posted by banddirhdg on 11/3/2020, 7:37 am, in reply to "All beginner percussion ADHD...."

Don't teach them until you have everyone's attention.

Re: All beginner percussion ADHD....

Posted by squirrel on 11/5/2020, 8:00 am, in reply to "Re: All beginner percussion ADHD...."

Yes, but for how long?

Re: All beginner percussion ADHD....

Posted by Perc. Dir. on 11/3/2020, 7:34 am, in reply to "All beginner percussion ADHD...."

Especially with beginners, routine, routine, routine! The more established a routine you have, the better the behavior will be. We have established routines for setting up equipment and assigned spots as well. I ALWAYS start with 8s and familiar exercises for about 5 minutes to get their hands moving and their brains working. After warmups, we do a brief review of what we did the day before and then I have about 5-10 minutes to introduce a new concept. The remaining 10-15 minutes of class are applying the new concept.

If it takes you more than 5-10 minutes to introduce and teach a new concept, then you need to break it down into smaller chunks.

Re: All beginner percussion ADHD....

Posted by vsrf on 11/3/2020, 6:39 am, in reply to "All beginner percussion ADHD...."

Focus on 'get it right the first time.' On everything. Instructions happen once. At that age, make it a game. See how many can get it right the first time. Some just want the individual attention. Refuse to repeat the instructions until it has been attempted. They won't like foundering around while others get it.

I really came around to focusing on this with one middle school group I had where it took forever to fix anything, even though it was a very good group. I finally gave a little speak about how (and it was true) it seemed like each time we tried to fix something, for the first two or three times nothing got better. Then it was like they realized, "I guess he's not going to move on from this, so it must be important. We'd better focus or we'll be here all day." Once or twice more and it would be fixed. After that (and several reminders) it was much better, and I took the approach I described earlier. Instructions once. Get it right the first time.

Re: All beginner percussion ADHD....

Posted by Dilerium on 11/2/2020, 10:39 pm, in reply to "All beginner percussion ADHD...."

You didn't mention if this was a percussion-only class or if they were mixed with others. I have addressed problems in the percussion section (and others) by moving them to the front of the room. You can make it work, even with percussion. I call it proximity control. You can help the students control themselves by putting them in closer proximity to you, the teacher.

Also, first things first is absolutely right. Teach your expectations before you get into the content. If the students cannot manage their behavior satisfactorily, they won't be able to manage the content.

Re: All beginner percussion ADHD....

Posted by first things first on 11/2/2020, 8:13 pm, in reply to "All beginner percussion ADHD...."

With some groups I have had to teach "character" before content. Start before they enter the room, {line up in the hall) I've had a class enter multiple times before they got it satisfactory. Stress the importance of self discipline. Make the necessary phone calls to parents. With the chaos of C19 stress they can overcome the distraction. Now teach at a pace that keeps kids involved. If they didn't get it break it down. Stand near the problem kid[s] when you teach. Move around constantly. I took a small 6man FB band of 21 to contest and 19 were identified as sped, adhd, ld, ed, and every other group of letters you choose. You win you get the check, don't lose your cool. In my 50yrs experience I've really seen it all.

« Back to index

[ The Yellow Board ]