Today for my Musical Analysis class I had the opportunity to view a wonderful TedTalk by Benjamin Zander. His goal for the talk was to give an analysis of Chopin's Prelude in E minor, but he gave us so much more.
Watch this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9LCwI5iErE
During his talk I find myself feeling the emotion of what Late Romantic period music brought to listeners - aesthetic value, colorful pieces. The Romantic Period allowed for a piece to be transformed from a strictly auditory medium, to become visual. The talk continues and he has some clever moments, having to do with deceptive cadences (our ears are conditioned to think that we should end on I (i) or the tonic of a chord), but he does so much more. These deceptive cadences allow for emotion to come to the forefront of our music.
As a music educator I loved how he described one buttock playing, which is just saying that the music should move you, the impulses are felt, but not in a rigid way. My goal is to help my students play or sing with only one buttock, but how? Music instruction is a passion for me. I have been feeling the February slump, just like many other teachers, however this TedTalk allowed me to recognize that I can do it. Zander points out something that every director should know, but I'm sure often forgets, "The conductor never makes a sound." There is actually a power transfer. A director's/educators power comes from their students/performers. We depend on our ability to give those students power. It in with this ability that great things happen. This is an ongoing process! The energy and power transfers from the educator through enthusiasm and what many schools could label as their GRR or Gradual Release of Responsibility. In other words, I interpret it this way - I will give foundation content knowledge, through engaging instruction, but then I can't do any more... Not until the students take what they have learned and apply it. In the music classroom I can only teach the basics, but we all know that we can't make the students practice or do it for them. The responsibility has shifted.
We are awakening possibility in other people! Zander says we can tell by looking in their eyes. If they're shining you're doing it. We will not reach every student in every way, but it's okay! Try to connect, build relationships, care, share your passion. Believe in yourself and your students because that's the only way we can do this.
I am exhausted, just like all my colleagues, but I have needed this renewed purpose. Here we go! Onward and Upward. One Buttock Performing.
Watch this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9LCwI5iErE
During his talk I find myself feeling the emotion of what Late Romantic period music brought to listeners - aesthetic value, colorful pieces. The Romantic Period allowed for a piece to be transformed from a strictly auditory medium, to become visual. The talk continues and he has some clever moments, having to do with deceptive cadences (our ears are conditioned to think that we should end on I (i) or the tonic of a chord), but he does so much more. These deceptive cadences allow for emotion to come to the forefront of our music.
As a music educator I loved how he described one buttock playing, which is just saying that the music should move you, the impulses are felt, but not in a rigid way. My goal is to help my students play or sing with only one buttock, but how? Music instruction is a passion for me. I have been feeling the February slump, just like many other teachers, however this TedTalk allowed me to recognize that I can do it. Zander points out something that every director should know, but I'm sure often forgets, "The conductor never makes a sound." There is actually a power transfer. A director's/educators power comes from their students/performers. We depend on our ability to give those students power. It in with this ability that great things happen. This is an ongoing process! The energy and power transfers from the educator through enthusiasm and what many schools could label as their GRR or Gradual Release of Responsibility. In other words, I interpret it this way - I will give foundation content knowledge, through engaging instruction, but then I can't do any more... Not until the students take what they have learned and apply it. In the music classroom I can only teach the basics, but we all know that we can't make the students practice or do it for them. The responsibility has shifted.
We are awakening possibility in other people! Zander says we can tell by looking in their eyes. If they're shining you're doing it. We will not reach every student in every way, but it's okay! Try to connect, build relationships, care, share your passion. Believe in yourself and your students because that's the only way we can do this.
I am exhausted, just like all my colleagues, but I have needed this renewed purpose. Here we go! Onward and Upward. One Buttock Performing.
