As busy music teachers, we try to strike a balance between everything that we want to accomplish in a lesson and the constraints of our own teaching circumstances. What is sometimes overlooked in our efforts to fulfill our expectations is how our students really see us and what we are communicating to them with our bodies. Nonverbal exchanges such as hand gestures or facial expressions between a teacher and students can impact learning experiences in music classrooms or rehearsals. Being aware of our nonverbal output will help us to be more consistent and effective communicators and to create environments that are conducive to positive learning experiences and exciting classrooms.
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