Having structure in the classroom is helpful in fostering security in both productivity and feelings of safety in students. A routine builds student expectations and therefore helps students as well as the teacher in transitioning from task to task. I think those expectations can also help strengthen students' focus in the class period, that somehow knowing what is coming next helps to prepare them to better approach the task. When students know what to expect, they can feel willing (and wanting) to participate, and feel more comfortable doing so. Conversely, when students are blindsided, it can take a while for the class as a whole to adjust to what is being asked of them. Genuine participation might be diminished due to the unsteadiness brought on with the unfamiliarity or lack of a structure.
While having structure is very important in the music classroom, I think teachers need to balance that structure with flexibility. Structure is different than rigidity, and flexibility is different than disjointed chaos.
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