Comments on: 07-08: What To Change Next Year http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/07-08-what-to-change-next-year/ Providing HOPE for educators since 2007 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:59:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/07-08-what-to-change-next-year/#comment-2216 Joel Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:44:34 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=461#comment-2216 <a href='#comment-2209' rel="nofollow">@Mr. Maestro</a> - Awesome stuff. Thanks for that! @Mr. Maestro – Awesome stuff. Thanks for that!

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]]> By: Mr. Maestrohttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/07-08-what-to-change-next-year/#comment-2209 Mr. Maestro Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:11:30 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=461#comment-2209 Teach a love of music: I'm sorry if I'm telling a story I've already told in a response somewhere, but this issue is near and dear to my heart. I think (hopefully without being too preachy) that every music teacher has to sit down and ask themselves why they teach music. That question directly relates to the reasons why students make music. We can teach them that the best thing about band is winning trophies (or high festival marks.) We can teach them that the best thing about band is entertaining the audience. We can teach them that the best thing about band is the opportunity to show your superiority by clawing your way into the principal chair. Some people teach them that the best thing about band is having a no-pressure, no-homework class. But why do we... as a people... NEED music in our lives. What is it's function as an art? My answer is: It is an advanced form of communication. It is a refined version of the primordial scream. Through it we say something important... about ourselves and about the world as we perceive it. The turning point for me was my first time playing Grainger's "Irish Tune" under a VERY good conductor. It was during a summer music program... so there were no festivals, no judges, no grades. Just the music. The conductor stopped at one point and said "You guys know this song... it's 'Danny Boy' right? What is that song about? It's a father and son saying goodbye... maybe their last goodbye. And they're trying to sum up their love for each other in one moment. Now I want you guys to play this as if you were saying goodbye to someone that important." The next thing I knew I couldn't see the music because I was welling up so much, and I was finding it hard to draw breath. From a performer's standpoint it was bad... because I was failing technically. From a human standpoint it was monumental. Here I am... a snot-nosed fifteen year-old kid and it felt like the world just got opened up to me. So yeah, we need to teach more than how to drive the car, we need to teach them where to go. Again, sorry if that got preachy... it's just that this issue defines me as a teacher more than any other. Teach a love of music:

I’m sorry if I’m telling a story I’ve already told in a response somewhere, but this issue is near and dear to my heart. I think (hopefully without being too preachy) that every music teacher has to sit down and ask themselves why they teach music. That question directly relates to the reasons why students make music. We can teach them that the best thing about band is winning trophies (or high festival marks.) We can teach them that the best thing about band is entertaining the audience. We can teach them that the best thing about band is the opportunity to show your superiority by clawing your way into the principal chair. Some people teach them that the best thing about band is having a no-pressure, no-homework class.

But why do we… as a people… NEED music in our lives. What is it’s function as an art? My answer is: It is an advanced form of communication. It is a refined version of the primordial scream. Through it we say something important… about ourselves and about the world as we perceive it.

The turning point for me was my first time playing Grainger’s “Irish Tune” under a VERY good conductor. It was during a summer music program… so there were no festivals, no judges, no grades. Just the music. The conductor stopped at one point and said “You guys know this song… it’s ‘Danny Boy’ right? What is that song about? It’s a father and son saying goodbye… maybe their last goodbye. And they’re trying to sum up their love for each other in one moment. Now I want you guys to play this as if you were saying goodbye to someone that important.”

The next thing I knew I couldn’t see the music because I was welling up so much, and I was finding it hard to draw breath. From a performer’s standpoint it was bad… because I was failing technically. From a human standpoint it was monumental. Here I am… a snot-nosed fifteen year-old kid and it felt like the world just got opened up to me.

So yeah, we need to teach more than how to drive the car, we need to teach them where to go.

Again, sorry if that got preachy… it’s just that this issue defines me as a teacher more than any other.

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