that test thought it was so tough...
I ended up spanking that test... eating it for breakfast along with my D'Leon's. mmm. It now has a new father... me. We'll see come grade time.
Ok, this is going to be a quick rant with me sounding like a pompous prick, I promise it'll be short.
Where is basic musical competency? In my practicum this morning the flutes that I was working with looked at me like I was crazy when I was talking to them about a)not breathing after every note, b)phrases, and c)TUNING. The last one most of all. They considered it annoying that I made them play a single pitch for a few minutes until they were all within 10 cents of each other. And that's as close as it got. These kids just go in and play the notes on the page and THAT'S IT. They couldn't give a shit about how it sounds. This doesn't make me angry, it makes me motivated. It makes me motivated to teach these concepts. I can't wait till I have the reigns of a middle school band. I'll be hard pressed to start on any actual music for quite a while. Those kids are going to learn a shitload of stuff by ear and there will be much in class listening to great recordings. I will teach them music. I will teach them to care about how they sound. I will teach the ones who don't give a shit how to get up and walk out. Music isn't for everyone, and I wish K-12 programs would emphasize that.
Just kidding, this is a long rant...
So does this mechanistic trend continue to college? It sure does. I got caught up in the higher faster louder trap in high school. I could be expressive and musical if I tried really hard but mostly I was a machine. Then I found my voice. I found that music doesn't come from your head, arm, lip, hand, whatever. It comes from the feeling you get when you see someone you love that you haven't in a long time. It comes from a relative dying. From the first time you meet your beloved pet. Life experience. Notes, rhythms, they're just suggestions. It doesn't mean shit unless it comes from somewhere. And the problem lies in that it's not cool to wear yourself on your sleeve. But that's what music is all about. Be dramatic. Show a flair. And people just don't care. Most, anyway. I've met some people who know how to feel it. And of course we're all still learning. If I claimed to know anything more than anyone else I'd be a hypocrite. I guess I'm just in touch with different things.
Ok, now it's over. I actually have some more to say but no time right now.
Ok, this is going to be a quick rant with me sounding like a pompous prick, I promise it'll be short.
Where is basic musical competency? In my practicum this morning the flutes that I was working with looked at me like I was crazy when I was talking to them about a)not breathing after every note, b)phrases, and c)TUNING. The last one most of all. They considered it annoying that I made them play a single pitch for a few minutes until they were all within 10 cents of each other. And that's as close as it got. These kids just go in and play the notes on the page and THAT'S IT. They couldn't give a shit about how it sounds. This doesn't make me angry, it makes me motivated. It makes me motivated to teach these concepts. I can't wait till I have the reigns of a middle school band. I'll be hard pressed to start on any actual music for quite a while. Those kids are going to learn a shitload of stuff by ear and there will be much in class listening to great recordings. I will teach them music. I will teach them to care about how they sound. I will teach the ones who don't give a shit how to get up and walk out. Music isn't for everyone, and I wish K-12 programs would emphasize that.
Just kidding, this is a long rant...
So does this mechanistic trend continue to college? It sure does. I got caught up in the higher faster louder trap in high school. I could be expressive and musical if I tried really hard but mostly I was a machine. Then I found my voice. I found that music doesn't come from your head, arm, lip, hand, whatever. It comes from the feeling you get when you see someone you love that you haven't in a long time. It comes from a relative dying. From the first time you meet your beloved pet. Life experience. Notes, rhythms, they're just suggestions. It doesn't mean shit unless it comes from somewhere. And the problem lies in that it's not cool to wear yourself on your sleeve. But that's what music is all about. Be dramatic. Show a flair. And people just don't care. Most, anyway. I've met some people who know how to feel it. And of course we're all still learning. If I claimed to know anything more than anyone else I'd be a hypocrite. I guess I'm just in touch with different things.
Ok, now it's over. I actually have some more to say but no time right now.