There are a lot of misconceptions about music learning out there that may be preventing you from fully embracing change in your classroom. These are some of the most common and the most damaging ones.
Myth #1: Classical music is the only music that is worthy of the classroom.
All genres of music have something to offer in terms of what thought went into its creation. Pop music not only encourages students to engage, but it can be rich with teachable theory too. Through pop music, students can learn about rhythm, texture, timbre (tone colour), chord progressions, and the way humans like to experience music. Why does this song make you want to dance? What is it about the rhythm? The bass line?
And it's not just pop music that has something to offer. Presenting students with a wide variety of genres like jazz, contemporary, and even ancient medieval music helps wire their brains for new experiences. Exposure to music from a wide variety of cultures is also known to assist children in developing inter-cultural empathy, and units on Australian music can be an excellent way of delving into what makes a piece of art Australian in the first place.
https://nafme.org/pop-music-in-the-classroom/
Myth #2: Theory stifles creativity.
Ideally, theory should be taught in such a way as to enhance musical experience, not dampen it. If a kid writes a piece of electronica, knowledge of chord progressions and how notes and textures fit together to make satisfying bass drops will only serve to make their work better.
Myth #3: You can’t teach or learn music without being about to play an instrument
In many cases, especially with younger children, attempting to learn an instrument can actually serve as an additional layer of complexity in what is already a very complicated and involved process. While learning a musical instrument is a fantastic way to develop musical skills, it is not the only way. Singing, dancing, and body percussion are three things that any child can do, and these techniques have the added benefit of allowing students to internalise their learning in their own body. Movement is an excellent way to encourage a sense of rhythm and appreciation and understanding of musical ideas.
This excellent article in the Guardian lists a number of ideas for teaching music and none of them require a musical instrument outside your own voice.
https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2014/sep/02/10-resources-for-teaching-music
Myth #4: Music is fun but it doesn’t stimulate students intellectually.
Completely false. For more information, visit Why Teach Music.
Myth #5: I’m too old to learn music.
The human brain is infinitely flexible. It’s never too late to begin learning new skills.
http://sixtyandme.com/benefits-of-learning-a-musical-instrument-after-50/ Myth #6: You have to be creative to participate in music.
Everyone knows that if you don’t know a language, all you have to do is simply… learn it. Of course, it’s a process that takes time and effort, but most people have a basic understanding of what it takes to learn something like a new language, why is music any different? Too often I hear music making put in some other category. One that’s ethereal and complex and all too wishy-washy to be learned. It manages to be simultaneously the purview of select geniuses and the unnecessary tag-along to more concrete and useful subjects, like English and Maths. Even visual arts, while still labelled ‘creative’, manages to get some input into everyday classroom activities and I personally believe this is because the results, while still just as subjective as music, can easily be seen. ‘Oh I’m not creative enough for music’. I hear this all the time from all sorts of people, but what even is creativity? The act of creating something? The ability to solve problems one hasn’t encountered before? Surely writing an essay is a creative process, but if you’ve had essay writing taught to you in the past it’s obviously not a mystery. There’s a process to it, and music is no different. There is structure to it, there is a process, and what i aim to achieve with this site is to lay bare this process. Music is not actually difficult to learn once you’ve decided what specifically you need to look at, and it certainly doesn’t require you to so anything crazy and inventive until you’re ready for it.
TLDR: The ability to learn music isn’t something you’re born with. It’s not an inherent trait, and it can be learned by anyone.
Comments