Tuesday, 31 May 2016

Recitals help to expose students and teachers to new music

Every year, my students complete a recital.  It's a good challenge for students.  They search for music to learn, think about acquiring an accompanist or use recorded backing track.  Visit music stores, research the Internet, listen to music and decide which pieces to perform and fit into their theme or objectives.  Every year, I too get exposed to some amazing music I have never heard before.  I end up asking the students if I can keep their music to sight read and also learn some new tunes to add to my list of repertoire I can play.  It's fascinating and enriching for students to be exposed to different styles and different RCM pieces of music.  Some students include small ensemble material as well.  They arrange a guest speaker to announce the tunes.  Some students arrange to share some bits of information about the music.  Some students invite family members to attend and some students even bring refreshments!  It's great that students perform for their classmates, so the learning that takes place is immeasurable, I think.  I find the best part for me is the music that inspires me to continue to learn as well.  I am amazed at the artistry and level of sophisticated understanding students delve into as a result of meeting this recital challenge every year.  It's definitely a keeper!

Monday, 16 May 2016

Listen to marches to raise your spirits

I am planning to listen to Sousa marches daily for a few weeks.  I want to test the idea about listening to spirited music to inspire mood and uplift one's spirits.  Today in one of my classes we listening to Sousa Stars and Stripes forever.  A brief discussion took place and I shared this idea I remember hearing about some years ago about a book written that promotes listening only to Marches - that marches are the best music.  We should avoid listening to all other music which promotes negative results.  I shared my story about two students (twins) who showed their classmates two plants as part of their choice to present a music topic in grade eleven.  To one plant, only classical music is played daily for a certain time frame; the other plant a different type of music: heavy metal style.
The plant which was exposed to classical music sounds outgrew the other plant.
I also talked about the "Mozart-effect", to make you smarter if you listen to certain pieces of music composed by Mozart.
At any rate, I am planning to try this daily dosage of March-listening!

I have been writing lately

I recently submitted an article to the OMEA Quarterly Journal and it was published.  I have also submitted another article which the editor has indicated she plans to include in the summer edition of the "Recorder" journal.  I am excited about this new found desire to write and contribute articles.  I write about my experiences in the classroom as a music educator.  I think that the ideas I share are good ones.  These strategies have been tested by me as I use these activities or methods / activities in my teaching daily.  My themes are about practicing music, learning music, developing music understanding and more.  For example, I truly support improvisation and sight reading as important components to teaching - and these must be explored daily.  Another feature I support is learning a new phrase daily and a new tune every week.
I have thought about writing in other areas not related to music.  I hope that I do get started on these topics in the near future.  For example, I want to write about my father and also an autobiography.
Thanks!