#creativepact Day 15
Another full on teaching day here and pretty wiped out. Very busy first week but very exciting. Lots of students with a lot of mixed abilities (not to mention the mix of instruments). Its always thrilling to find those students who are naturally gifted. They just see it and it clicks and they play it. For most of us (myself included) music is a love that needs the work putting in. So the thought for today is what do you do for those who aren't gifted and talented. Those that clearly love music and enjoy it but it takes a long time. (I do remember one flute student who after a year still hadn't made a clear tone but was determined to stick with it!) For those student tutor books can be a hindrance. Often there are leaps in progression to challenge learning and for most that's fine. And that's when teachers need to have a music library to pad things with or be a good composer to quickly bash out new fun pieces. Music games are great. Musical hangman. Note word writing. Beat the clock and other games my students love (and hate) playing. For slower fun progress try different approaches to the same piece. By memory. All by ear. Transposed to a different key. Improvised around. Composed using. Played backwards. Upside down. As a duet.... any way to keep the music fun and the progression going forwards. It doesn't matter how fast they learn. As long as they learn and they love learning it.