So I have this guitar class with two students in it... yup, a half hour block with only two fifth graders in their second year of playing guitar. Lucky kids! Anyway, one of the students has had some medical issues recently, plus a couple family related absences, which means that the other student is basically getting a private lesson twice a week. Consequently, he is waaaaaaaay ahead of his peer on our performance material for the Spring concert at the end of April. Yesterday was, surprise, another "private" lesson! So I gave him a choice: polish the songs we have, or help me find some more material to work on. Naturally he chose to help me search for new songs! Online we went, navigating to various sites I know of (ones that don't contain negative comments he shouldn't be reading) with him calling out names of songs. Most of what we found were songs he listens to on the radio which, to his amazement, only contain three or four chords. After several such songs (he just wrote down the chords on a sticky note and we moved on) he was ready to play them, so I opened Band in a Box (awesome program!), typed in the chords, chose a rhythm section style, and hit play. By the end of the lesson he knew four new songs!
Now, judging from the level of enthusiasm and energy in this impromptu lesson, how do I judge where the line is between the need to teach them fundamentals and keeping them interested enough in the songs to continue to learn outside of school?
I am currently lobbying to get Band in a Box put on a few machines in the computer lab in order to introduce students to it and, because it is a relatively inexpensive program ($129), I am hoping that some of the parents might consider buying it for their kiddos too. This is a great practice tool, and can be fun for composition too, that can create an entire rhythm section for them to play with rather than practicing all by themselves.
Sites I used:
http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/www.bag.org/im_yours.chopro
http://www.e-chords.com/chords/daughtry/its-not-over
http://www.pgmusic.com/
I will have to check out Band in a Box for my 10 year old guitar player. She needs something extra - sounds like this may be worth a look. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI think once a student has mastered the fundamentals there is no need to continue to teach from that standpoint. Yes fundamentals should always be reintegrated, but pressing forward allowing the student to be creative will enviably keep their interest(s). I'm not too familiar with components of a music course, the lessons, or curriculum so what does a course such as yours entail?
ReplyDeleteDo students draft reports or conduct research to learn different genres or about different musicians? I think allowing the student to identify their instrument in their favorite songs or songs from a different era then coming to class to discuss or emulate what they've heard will keep their interest...as well as possibly learn something new in the process.
At my level the students are becoming familiar with a particular instrument, how to produce the sound, play different notes, and the basic fundamentals of notation and rhythm. I have a few students, like the one discussed above, who progress beyond the basics and are ready for more. No written reports or projects, we honestly don't have time for that. I only get to see them twice a week for a half-hour at a time. Most learning is done at home. I play several genre for them so they can get a feel for it and we play many different styles in our concerts, so they have a healthy exposure to new (and old) styles.
DeleteI think of the fundamentals in teaching kind of like the fundamentals in sports. While you initially teach kids how to dribble a basketball, or handle a puck, you build on those skills by introducing things like crossovers and toe drags as players become more advanced. Before games or at the beginning of practices, players do drills to practice the fundamentals of the games. Likewise, in teaching, we teach students how to multiply (a pretty fundamental skill) and then teach them to multiply with two plus digits, decimals, and fractions. Before teaching how to multiply fractions and decimals, I always go over the basic rules of multiplication. Like Alonda said, fundamentals should always be reintegrated.
DeleteVery cool! I often wonder what we did without the internet. Information is so much easier to access, which can ultimately make us more talented! Music is a perfect example. We have music at our fingertips!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, what a lucky student you have!
Heh... he doesn't feel so lucky since I made him learn that Taylor Swift song "Love Story!" Even telling him that "the chicks dig it" wasn't enough for him to mask his grimace. Kids are hilarious!!
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