Robert Duke and James Byo from the Center for Music Learning at University of Texas at Austin have created a band method that goes beyond the rudimentary basic of note reading and technique to include musicianship from the very beginning. While we can be happy when the right pitch is produced with a semi-reasonable embouchure and almost decent tone quality, but a note is wrong if it isn't played in tune and with the proper inflection.
They offer a free download of all the materials. This edition is much easier to read than the last. All students parts are there with scores for the teacher. Even if you do not adopt the method, the introductory text is worth reading.
This is certainly an interested method. It is true that technique is introduces in ways that do not promote efficient skill development, often because of ingrained expectations for young students that may not be accurate. However, on the other hand, many of the practice techniques required to develop good musical skills and habits-long tones, scales, careful repetition of small units of music-can be exceedingly boring for young students, who often have difficulty creating the context of a larger goal related to these things. Music educators have to consider this as well.
ReplyDeleteThe issue of musical habits also likely goes deeper than performance techniques. Music education programs often place little to no emphasis on critical listening, a skill which when absent or underdeveloped severely limits one's musical potential.
This is a wonderful resource that Duke and Byo have made available. What I like about it is that it is based on research about how kids learn to play an instrument. It is definitely worth taking a look at.
ReplyDelete