Re: Tired Music Programs -- Heidelberg MusEd discussion

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Date Posted: 20:23:10 04/18/06 Tue
Author: Derek
Subject: Re: Tired Music Programs
In reply to: Lisa 's message, "Tired Music Programs" on 14:32:53 04/28/05 Thu

I agree with all of this. If I can, let me just help clarify things by using what we were taught in secondary instrumental methods... (374)

Basically, the only person responsible for a music department burning or thriving is the director, and the best way to keep a program going is to have clear objectives and goals for the department. One way to do this is to develop an adequate "philosophy" of teaching, and keep it running based on that philosophy.

This is where it gets tough, but some of the best ideas I've ever come across for a teaching philosophy actually come from five priniciples developed for beginning band based on John Dewey's work (an American educator and philosopher). These five principles can actually act as different threads or concepts that can support the entire music department. Here they are:

Principle number one: Instruction needs to be based on experience. It is much easier to teach a concept AFTER the students have experienced it. Therefore, "experience precedes theory," and the best way to teach music is to have the students play, play, play. Often, directors -- including myself -- make the mistake of explaining concepts to the kids before they've even had a chance to try it out. For example, I remember explaining how to play softly to the band I'm working with right now -- I spent about 2 minutes explaining how playing softly needed more air than playing loudly, and how the body needed to do this and that... after about a minute and a half the kids just fell out of their chairs bored to death. I realized then that the majority of them already knew what soft meant, so there was no reason for me to explain "how to get it." Either they could do it, or they couldn't... simple as that - LET THEM PLAY... then explain the idea afterwards if they need it. Base your teaching on "experience," and part of the spark you talk about a department loosing will never be lost. Engage them, play with them, and encourage them... don't bore them to no end and expect them to be excited about it.

Principle number two: now that I've written a book and a half for the first principle, let me try and keep these others a little more concise. Principle number two is easy enough to understand, all students need is instruction that proceeds from the "known to the unknown..." As teachers, we need to find a way to figure out what they already know, such as a particular rhythm, and then teach them new concepts based off of that previously little known fact, such as 3/4 time is the same as 4/4 but with 3 beats.

Principle numbe three: Next, the most effective way to teach a class of a hundred little musicians is to teach them the general picture first, study the parts, and then reconstruct the picture again. Teach "from the whole to the parts and back again." You might find that this is the easiest way to manage your time, and it usually keeps the students engaged. Think about playing a piece for the first time. Think about stopping every other measure to fix a note or rhythm. Is that fun? Is that going to help spark the department? (Again, LET THEM PLAY, fix it up, and let them PLAY again... PLAY, PLAY, PLAY)

Principle number four: Another simple concept, but one that's rarely thought about. Students will only learn if they're motivated to learn. "Learning depends upon the desire to learn..."

AND

Principle number five: If principle number four is correct, then number five is simply finding a way to motivate them. "Teaching is the art of making students want to learn..."

If you take these five principles into consideration when you're developing your teaching philosophy, then the chances of loosing that spark in your department will be reduced methinks.

Perhaps the easiest motivator for learning is just to let the students PLAY all the time...

I actually think that's all you need to worry about. As soon as you feel like your job is not focused on letting the ensembles play, problems might start popping up. Deal with discipline quickly, deal with problems quickly, and then deal with anything else after class.

Some kids get a chance to play their instruments for an hour a day, others even less. If you let yourself worry about everything else in your job during that time slot for "band," there's no way your students are going to get to play.

In short, I believe that if your CORE philosophy for teaching music is simply "to learn music through playing in different ensembles," then your department will never loose its spark because everyone'll be too busy playing.

LET THE MUSIC MOTIVATE... Never loose sight of that, and you should be fine.

Of course, I could be wrong about all this... lol
Let me know what you think

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[> Re: Tired Music Programs -- Tediyra, 00:40:21 04/24/06 Mon [1]

You can always let the children use that which is most comfortable to them to create projects.

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