Teaching the YouTube musician

A recent phenomenon that we should be cognizant of is YouTube.com. This free video service is quickly revolutionizing music teaching. It is already created an enormously motivated pool of potential new students. A new class of students, which has been flying under the radar for years and a group poorly served by the professional teaching profession I say.

Here’s a typical profile from my studio:

• 10 to 12 years old, oldest is 23
• Male
• An enthusiastic user of the computer, computer games, and the internet
• Loves music, and pop culture
• Has an impatient character
• Possesses high energy
• Self-motivated
• Have definite musical tastes
• The predominant learning style is visual and auditory. In other words, they don’t like to read music.
• They are unresponsive to traditional teaching methods, aims, and processes.
• They fit the classic definition of amateur: for the love of music.

The big question, of course is” how do we serve this group”, or maybe the question is,” Do we want to serve this group?”

 There are few strategies I’ve successfully used:

• I review the instructional video on YouTube with the student. I help correct their technical approach to the piece, typically we redo the fingering.
• I take their musical interests seriously.
• I help them explore other music related to their interests.
• To help their reading, I often write out a phrase of the piece for them to learn.
• I teach them how to assemble the music on the computer using sequencing software.
• I encourage them to think about joining a band or jamming with their friends.

Here are a few outcomes

•  Because they play primarily by ear, love to practice and are highly motivated they typically play with the best groove and feel of all my students.
• Because I take their musical interests seriously, none of them have quit.
• I learned some exciting new music from enthusiastic self-motivated students.

Cheers,

David Story

How to teach listening skills

I have collection of old piano pedagogy books, one dating around 1900. A common thread throughout these books is the observation that many students can’t hear themselves, or others.

 

It is my contention that a student can’t play what they can’t hear. A teacher can’t teach what they can’t hear either. So, I’ve collected up a series of ideas from various sources.

• Have a listening practice. Play a recording, or demonstrate yourself. Afterwards ask the student questions on tempi, dynamics, articulations, etc. Compare different recordings of the same piece. Teach the student to hear the difference. The depth of inquiry depends on the development of the student
• Give out the list of genres given a few weeks ago and invite the older students to youtube.com the list. A wonderful discovery.
• Give a mock student demonstration and ask the student to critique the performance. This is particularly fun for younger students.
• Record and playback a student performance in your studio.
• Teach them to play with a metronome. Start easy, on scales: one note per click.
• Teach them some of the lessons outlined in the book, “The music lesson”by Victor L. Wooten. A priceless gem @$12.00
• Improvise together
• Teach them to pick out tunes by ear. Start with Jingle Bells
• Organise a jazz, new music, Renaissance music field trip. Meet the musicians afterwards.
• Introduce the kids to composition through Frances Balodis Young composer books.
• Teach ear training from the get-go: intervals, chords, dynamics, articulations, etc.

 All the best to everyone in 2010

 

David

Marketing Music Lessons Seth Godin

Seth Godin, marketing guru, predicts that over the next two years there will be a seismic shift in the marketplace. And, it’s likely to come out of left field.

For instance, hundreds of thousands of young people are learning to play musical instruments on http://www.youtube.com/. They may or may not be taking formal music lessons. I guess they’re not. Why is this method of learning become so popular?

• They learn at their own pace
• They can pick their own material
• They can learn only the good parts
• They can connect with others who have a similar interest
• They can fantasize that they’re part of something bigger, i.e. pop superstardom
• Nobody is standing over them correcting them
• Nobody is insisting they get it right
• Generally the parents like the same music, so give positive feedback

They just get to play, have fun and then do it all over it.

I currently have five http://www.youtube.com/ kids. Last year I had none.

Seth Godin has a new e-book for free. I encourage everyone to download this.
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/files/what-matters-now-1.pdf

David Story

Holiday Recital 2009

Christmas Recital was initiated last (2008) year, it replaced previously existed General recital.


We thought that the idea of Holiday recital will be more attractive for the teachers/students. It also would allow non-discriminative entries to all students, who would like to participate and enrich their experience in public performance; proved to be very successful.

This year we had more than 50 entries and decided to divide recital in two parts: Junior- Early Intermediate group at 4pm and Late Intermediate- Senior Group at 5pm. Dr. Tiiu Haamer – Recital coordinator required a dress code for this recital – kids were beautifully dressed, which added to the festive spirit.

It was a full house at RBG – very well attended. Everyone loved the new venue - RBG Auditorium. Very “intimate and inviting” in Dr. Joan Heels words. We had a privilege to use 7”grand piano for free – courtesy of YPC.

Many participants took pictures around RBG which was beautifully decorated for the holiday season.

Wonderful experience for our students and truly enjoyable for parents.

Olga Tcherniak

Musical Genres: How many do we know?

With the internet information explosion and the fracturing of musical preferences in our culture, I thought it would be fun to explore some of the musical genres competing for our students' attention. The following list was culled from http://www.live365.com/listen/browse.live,  an internet radio service.

Grab a cup of tea, fire up the site or visit http://www.youtube.com/.

David Story

here we go!

30s

40s
50s
60s
70s
80s
90s
Acid House
Acid Jazz
Acoustic Blues
Adult Album Alternative
Adult Contemporary
African
Alt-Country
Alternative
Alternative Folk
Alternative Rap
Ambient
Americana
Anime
Anniversary
Arabic
Asian
Avant Garde
Bachata
Banda
Barbershop
Baroque
Big Band
Big Beat
Birthday
Bluegrass
Blues
Bop
Bossa Nova
Brazilian
Breakbeat
British Invasion
Britpop
Bubblegum Pop
Cajun/Zydeco
Caribbean
Celtic
Chamber
Chicago Blues
Children's/Family
Chill
Choral
Christian
Christian Metal
Christian Rap
Christian Rock
Christmas
Classic Alternative
Classic Christian
Classic Country
Classic Jazz
Classic R&B
Classic Rock
Classical
Classical Period
College
Comedy
Community
Contemporary Bluegrass
Contemporary Blues
Contemporary Country
Contemporary Folk
Contemporary Gospel
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary Reggae
Cool Jazz
Country
Country Blues
Cumbia
Dance Pop
Dancehall
Dancepunk
Delta Blues
Dirty South
Disco
Doo Wop
Downtempo
Dream Pop
Drum 'n' Bass
Dub
Early Classical
East Coast Rap
Easy Listening
Electric Blues
Electro
Electronic/Dance
Emo
Environmental
Ethnic Fusion
European
Exotica
Experimental
Extreme Metal
Filipino
Folk
Folk Rock
Freeform
Freestyle
Funk
Fusion
Gangsta Rap
Garage
Garage Rock
Glam
Gospel
Goth
Government
Greek
Grunge
Halloween
Hanukkah
Hard Bop
Hard House
Hard Rock
Hawaiian/Pacific
Healing
Heartache
Heavy Metal
Hindi
Hip-Hop/Rap
Honeymoon
Honky Tonk
Hot Country Hits
House
IDM
Impressionist
Indian
Indie Pop
Indie Rock
Industrial
Industrial Metal
Inspirational
International
JPOP
Jam Bands
Japanese
Jazz
Jewish
Jungle
Latin
Latin Dance
Latin Jazz
Latin Pop
Latin Rap/Hip-Hop
Latin Rock
Lo-Fi
Lounge
Love/Romance
Mariachi
Meditation
Mediterranean
Merengue
Metal
Middle Eastern
Modern
Modern Rock
Motown
Neo-Soul
New Acoustic
New Age
New Wave
Noise Pop
Old School
Oldies
Opera
Orchestral Pop
Original Score
Party Mix
Patriotic
Piano
Polka
Pop
Pop Metal/Hair
Pop-Reggae
Post-Punk
Power Pop
Praise/Worship
Prog/Art Rock
Progressive
Psychedelic
Punk
Quiet Storm
R&B/Urban
Ragga
Rainy Day Mix
Ranchera
Rap Metal
Reality
Reggae
Reggaeton
Rock
Rock & Roll
Rock Steady
Rockabilly
Romantic
Roots Reggae
Salsa
Scanner
Seasonal/Holiday
Sermons/Services
Showtunes
Shuffle/Random
Singer/Songwriter
Ska
Smooth Jazz
Soca
Soft Rock
Soul
Soundtracks
South American
Southern Gospel
Space Age Pop
Spiritual
Spoken Word
Surf
Swing
Symphony
Tamil
Tango
Techno
Teen Pop
Tejano
Top 40
Traditional Folk
Traditional Gospel
Trance
Travel Mix
Tribal
Trip Hop
Trippy
Tropicalia
Turntablism
Underground Hip-Hop
Urban Contemporary
Valentine
Vocal Jazz
Wedding
West Coast Rap
Western
Women
Work Mix
World Folk
World Fusion
World Pop
Worldbeat
Zouk

Teaching Excellence

These are some of the topics I will be exploring over the next year or two on the subject of teaching excellence. Feel free to submit your thoughts prior to publication.


Cheers, David Story


Lifelong learning

Studio layout

Responsiveness

Recitals

Bookkeeping

Workshop attendance

Conventions

Forming discussion groups

Marketing

The Internet

Children today

Technology

Emotional wellness: ours and theirs

Teaching adults

Exam preparation

Exam follow-up

Creativity

Improvisation

Concerts

Master classes

Selecting their next teacher

College and university preparation

Assessing talent

Perfect students

Imperfect students

Parents

School band

“I want to play the drums!”

Pop music in the age of the iPod

Teaching seniors

Attracting new teachers to the profession

Keeping fit

Keeping up-to-date

Keeping our performing skills sharp when we teach all day

Technique

Posture

Deportment and etiquette

Great teaching books

Competing with the Internet

Outlook for the profession

Teaching the YouTuber

Why kids want to play

Why adults want to play

Why teens want to play

Staying motivated as a teacher

Dealing with stress: ours and theirs

Meditation for students

Musical genres: how many do we know?

How to teach listening skills