Christopher Hoddinott.com
Menu

Christopher Hoddinott

Music Teacher / Educator
Extended Essay and Personal Project Coordinator
Grade 9 Level Leader
Musician
Academic
Artist
Likes Tea

EARCOS Article - Winter 2019

1/4/2019

0 Comments

 
I am happy that EARCOS has published my article on Learning Spaces for their latest Triannual Journal. 

To read the article you can find it here.

http://www.earcos.org/ad_magazine.php
0 Comments

Festival of Light ISS Concert

12/14/2018

0 Comments

 
Thank you to all who came to the festival of lights concert on the 12th December 2018. Despite the rain it was a great success. With fantastic performances from all of our students. Concerts like this take months of preparation and it is a momentous achievement for students to keep their composure for it to come together on the night. 

The line up included individual performances of Romantic, Rock, and Musical Pieces. And the Guitar ensembles from Grade 9 and 10 who performed Somewhere over the Rainbow - Harold Arlen Home on the Range - Daniel E.Kelley Gymnopedie I - Erik Satie, Bach Canon - J.S. Bach Lemon - Kenshi Yonezu and Wake Me Up - Avicii. 

We look forward to seeing you at our next Musical event in March.
To see more photos.app.goo.gl/vM6xyMyJo4tsKrAc6 
0 Comments

Taking the time to relax - Even whilst working

1/18/2018

0 Comments

 
As a music teacher, I am a believer in the power of music. One of these powers is the ability to affect how we feel and our mood. Our mood can also greatly effects our classrooms, a teachers reaction contributes to how a students reacts and ultimately performs in a class. 

It is a simple step but works, Taking a minute or two to practice mindfulness by listening to relaxing music can help us to contemplate, reflect and reevaluate our moods.  I use the music whilst marking, break time etc.

I even put some of this music on whilst students enter the classroom. It helps them to listen and realign and focus on the lesson. The following playlist is some of the music I have chosen. I put this together thus that can help ourselves to relax and put into perspective some of those stresses that happen over the school day, thus our mood and influence on the class is better 
0 Comments

14th November 2017 - Good and Bad Study Habits

11/14/2017

0 Comments

 
The exam period can cause many students anxiety and stress. Lots of that is due to the bad habits that they pick up. Even more so when there are so many distractions. Many students already know what the good and bad habits are. It is a case of reminding them and trying to come up with solutions to break the bad habits. 

Students in my year level were asked in groups to reflect on what are good study habits they have and which bad habits they have. They were then asked to pin up their work and discuss the ideas of the other groups.
Students were able to discuss and understand what good habits they need to employ but also what stops them studying. They can understand what the good habits are.

Their list included;

Good Habits

  • Time Management - Give yourself enough time
  • Avoid distractions - Mobile phone/TV/ Netflix/ chat
  • Find a good space to study
  • Work with friends - form study groups - test each other
  • Take regular breaks
  • Eat Healthy - Your brain needs fuel and at regular times
  • Healthy snacks
  • Plenty of Sleep - It’s how your brain processes information and recovers
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Use graphic organisers
  • Highlight important text
  • Create a study timetable
  • Use note taking techniques
  • Work in a focused and concentrated manner
  • Ask for help when you need it
  • Mindful Activities
  • Stay organised
  • Shutting down the wi-fi

Bad Habits include

  • Procrastination - Don’t put it off
  • A bad study environment - that's noisy or uncomfortable.
  • Allowing yourself to be distracted, your phone is on or facebook is in the browser. Every Time you check FB it take an average of 5 minutes to get back in the work zone.
  • Cramming - The night before - It doesn't work
  • Study groups who don’t study.
  • Not getting enough sleep
  • Getting the Junk food/sugar fix
  • Overloading on energy drinks
  • Losing focus and getting stressed
  • Forgetting to learn - Reading the material and then forgetting it the next day.
  • Being the socialite - Chat/messaging/ basically not revising
  • Playing videos/games
  • Overdoing it - Not allowing your mind to have a break and recover


0 Comments

22nd October - How to Answer an IB Section A question

10/22/2017

0 Comments

 
The G12 students are deep in studying their set works for the IB exam. Having completed the study of the Bach Brandenburg concerto. I thought it would be useful to do some open book exam questions with the G12 students and how to approach the section A question. 
 
This is quite a general explanation of how to approach the question. However, the simple steps should help students develop their practices and focus their time when in a pressured environment. 

IB Music Section A, Exam Preparation - Strategies for Success,
 
  1. Time Management. This is important when answering the question. You should practice and learn to give each question the same amount of time. This is 30 minutes for each question.
  2. Focus on what the question is asking you. Is it asking you to look specifically at a certain section of the music. Has it used specific musical terminology? What do you understand from the specific music terminology given? Highlight any key words, you may want to use them in your answer to demonstrate you have understood the question.
  3. Display your knowledge and understanding. Explain your ideas and what you know in relation to the question
  4. Find examples from the score, back up your ideas.
  5. Keep refering back to the question. This will keep your focus on what the question is about.
  6. Check your music terminology, question if you are using the right terminology to explain your ideas.
  7. Draw a conclusion/conclusions. Make sure you are refering back to the question.
 
Leaving the exam room do not dwell on what you have written. It is in the past, you can be safe in the knowledge you prepared the best you could, and you gave it all of your effort.
 
By Christopher Hoddinott

0 Comments

6th February 2017

2/10/2017

0 Comments

 
This week has been busy once again. The Music room is looking great especially with the redesigned practice rooms which are getting more student use. 

The G10 students are continuing with their Keyboard Skills. They are starting from the beginning of their instrument skills and thus developing accordingly.
Picture
Cleaning up the classroom
The G9 students are currently starting their film music module. Some students are advanced in their guitar playing whilst the new students are just starting. I have added a couple of instructional videos to aid their playing
0 Comments

January 30th, 2017

1/30/2017

0 Comments

 
Happy New Year. With the festivities. This week had only with only 2 teaching days and two training days. 

The first training day included looking at emotional intelligence with Dr Sarah Whyte. Dr Sarah was a clear expert in her field. What was interesting was how to understand how and why students react the way we do and how we can react in turn as teachers. My favourite Metaphor from the day was that "Teachers are the Weather in the classroom, we can make a place sunny and bright or create a storm where everyone gets wet"

The second part of the day included mindful practice and exploring how we can use mindfulness in the school environment. 

The G10 students started their ePortfolio presentations. Every student is enlightening and giving fasinating insights with their project. Check up next week with their progress. 


Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Week of 23rd January 2017 

1/24/2017

0 Comments

 
Our G11 students continued the exploration into world musical cultures. In particular to understanding polyrhythmic techniques. The student came up with their own short polyrhythmic pieces of music demonstrating the layers to combine to create the piece of music. 

The G9 ESL students have started their Rock/Pop module. They have been learning the skills to becoming a drummer using Musical Futures "Just Play" techniques.  

G9 have composed their own Radio Jingle as the final part of their songwriting course. They were given a product that they had to write a 30 second radio jingle for using Garageband as part of this process. 

G10 are busy in preparation for their ePortfolio presentations happening next week. They are presenting two songs that inspired change/social justice.  http://hsmusiciss.weebly.com/eportfolio

​
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Week Beginning 9th January 2016: High Music meets Elementary

1/16/2017

0 Comments

 
This week our grade 11 students had the fantastic opportunity of showing their musical instruments and their musical playing skills to the grade 3 students. After a short introduction the grade 3 students explored in groups the instruments with the grade 11 students. The grade 11 students demonstrated and answered questions about their playing and their instrument. The grade 3 were able to ask questions about dynamics, timbre/tone colour, pitch. The grade 11 students included Uta, Naoki, Tristan, Youngjin, Mhairie Flor, Soo Yun and Siu Jun. 
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

    About me

    I am the High School Music teacher at ISS International School Singapore. A passion for seeing students improve and strive forward as well as making music. 

    Archives

    December 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017

    Categories

    All
    Bach
    Elementary
    Exam
    IBDP
    Music
    MYP
    Section A
    Sharing
    Study Skills

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Blog
  • Extended Essay
  • Mr Hoddinott's Awesome Music Video of the week
  • Social Media
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter Feed
  • Teaching Blog
  • Music Compositions
  • Contact
  • Home
    • About Me
  • Radio Jingle
  • MLI
  • Blog
  • Extended Essay
  • Mr Hoddinott's Awesome Music Video of the week
  • Social Media
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter Feed
  • Teaching Blog
  • Music Compositions
  • Contact
  • Home
    • About Me
  • Radio Jingle
  • MLI