Re: developing musicians and a musical culture

["David" <vze2ncsr@verizon.net>]

Mark writes: "Find out what turns on your student and teach based on that."

I TOTALLY agree with this.

I think teaching is best accomplished when the teacher is also open to
learning something.  A student-to-teacher exchange sets up a dynamic that
invites the student to become a better learner when it is his/her turn to
pick up new ideas.

The challenge is that with 10 students, one teacher needs to think and 
teach
in 10 different ways.  That's hard work.

David Kirkdorffer


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "mark" <sine@zerocrossing.net>
To: <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 2:16 PM
Subject: Re: developing musicians and a musical culture


> On Tuesday, July 15, 2003, at 10:34  AM, David wrote:
> > But here's my point :  What high-school music teacher today can teach
> > these kids how to use Reason or Live, etc.??????   I suggest THESE are
> > the kinds of instuments that kids today will be using more and more to
> > make their music.
>
> I agree.  Reason is the new Casiotone.  Some will flail around and
> loose interest, others will be inspired to dig deeper.  I think there's
> something really nice and democratic about tools like these, but
> they're a double edged sword.  They can encourage an emphasis on music
> production and not being an instrumentalist.
>
> This isn't new though, dulcimers tuned to a chord, jew harps and other
> "folk" instruments can encourage instant gratification.  Other
> instruments offer a much higher form of flexibility but require
> learning a more complex instrument.  Look at simple musical forms like
> Blues music.  Learn 3 chords and you're on it.  Of course it's much
> more than that, but that is what I'm talking about.  I'm helping my
> wife learn piano and she's using a combination of piano instruction
> books and pop music books.  After learning the dry stuff she can at
> least have fun playing the chords to "Still Haven't Found What I'm
> Looking For."  I think this is where most teachers fall down.  Find out
> what turns on your student and teach based on that.
>
> Mark Sottliaro
>