Why is Music Important for Kids?
This question has been debated for as long as time has existed. Even the great Greek and Roman philosophers approached the question: is music something that should be taught and does it help the development of children? Plato answered "I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for in the patterns of music and all arts are the keys to learning." And again “what then is the education to be? Perhaps we could hardly find a better than that which the experience of the past has already discovered, which consists, I believe, in gymnastic, for the body, and music for the mind.”
In all cultures of the world music plays an important role. While these roles may change depending on the culture it is impossible to separate music from the life of an individual. While some may argue the role of music in our lives it is impossible to escape it. Even in the popular culture of Australia it is impossible to go shopping without hearing music. Music provides a means of communication and expression of culture and individual identity.
Children are immersed in music from birth and will be for their entire life. If this is the case why teach it? Is not the constant immersion in music enough? To this I say; is the fact that we witness the results of scientific principals on a day to day basis result in the understanding of those scientific principles? No it does not and likewise for music it does not either. The day to day encounters we have with music can move us but the understanding of this music can help us grow as individuals.
In many cultures the family plays the main role in music education. Families are most commonly the ones that teach children the music of their culture. As young children, we are commonly sung nursery rhymes. These provide entertainment for the child and often information in small repeated fashion. Children learn through the repetition and structure that the information was delivered in. many nursery rhymes teach fundamental life lesson and therefore sets music up as a means of educating. Children learn from music from a young age and will continue to for the rest of their lives. In a world where globalization and consumerism are dominating cultural identities are drifting into the background and children are more likely to be sung pop songs as lullaby’s than nursery rhymes. The benefit of nursery rhymes and progressive learning has become an issue. Children are missing out on fundamental learning opportunities.
The Mozart effect which gained a large following in the 1990’s claimed that listening to Mozart as a baby will make a child smarter. While this movement was short lived and there is little proof that it works there has been no denying that children who learn music will achieve higher in other aspects of their academic life. In earning music children learn to express their identities, gain confidence and develop sense of time and space. A research team at the university of Munster in Germany discovered that students who study music have more developed abstract reasoning skills which are closely linked to learning in the areas of science and maths.
I do not believe that there is any argument to this question…music is a vital part of a child’s education and should be taken seriously. Listening to music is not enough! A child must learn to think musically and that is what will help assist the development of the child and their academic development.
written by Gemma Lee from www.shinemusic.com.au teachers of piano, saxophone, violin, singing, drums, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, flute and clarinet
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Making Students Love Music
In his private studio has an innovative and interactive music teaching resources, you can of course focus on the development of their students'interests in music. Through these, you can also motivate the craft, music and their profession and passion. Learning music can be a difficult task. This requires much time and effort, it is difficult music education, dynamic and versatile.
Ideally, the music teacher must have the following objectives in mind:
* offer custom-made and ambitious agenda for its music-inclined students to maximize the potential of their music;
* provide a comprehensive music education through listening, powerful (solo and group), and compositional skills, and
* To realize that everyone has the possibility to understand, express and create music.
Effective music teachers are those resources that may actually encourage students to attend classes regularly, to encourage their participation and cooperation, and most of all, to inspire a love music. Many music teachers resources are easily accessible via the Internet. In just a matter of few clicks, you can learn how to enhance their teaching strategies in the music.
There are different sources of music teachers who may decide to use as your motivational factors in teaching music to the large number of students with different personalities, requirements, needs and desires. Here is my comprehensive list:
• cooperative learning. This is an instructional paradigm, in which teams of students work on structured tasks such as homework, lab experiments and design projects. It is administered under conditions that meet five criteria: positive interdependence, individual accountability, face-to-face interactions to fit in co-operation skills and regular internal-evaluation team functioning.
Many studies have shown that, if properly implemented, cooperative learning improves many aspects, such as information on obtaining and maintaining a higher-level thinking, interpersonal and communication skills and confidence. At that seeks to promote some of the benefits of individual freedom and cooperation in learning.
• Opportunities. This may be an advantage if the curriculum is better to release the student'musical talent. Must be given such a chance to play and compete - either solo or group, which represents the school in music-related activities and various competitions.
• exposure. Also, as well as opportunities, exposure can be of great benefit to a greater state interest. Knowledge and information on several musical scenes in the fact that they look forward to meeting other music. They attend concerts, recital or group of tests. Visit some of the professional or traditional recording studios can be fun and exciting ways to learn music and to reveal them in the real world.
All of these innovative and effective teaching strategies and resources of music, I've read so sure that you could meet your academic goals and vision. Good luck and happy learning!
Ideally, the music teacher must have the following objectives in mind:
* offer custom-made and ambitious agenda for its music-inclined students to maximize the potential of their music;
* provide a comprehensive music education through listening, powerful (solo and group), and compositional skills, and
* To realize that everyone has the possibility to understand, express and create music.
Effective music teachers are those resources that may actually encourage students to attend classes regularly, to encourage their participation and cooperation, and most of all, to inspire a love music. Many music teachers resources are easily accessible via the Internet. In just a matter of few clicks, you can learn how to enhance their teaching strategies in the music.
There are different sources of music teachers who may decide to use as your motivational factors in teaching music to the large number of students with different personalities, requirements, needs and desires. Here is my comprehensive list:
• cooperative learning. This is an instructional paradigm, in which teams of students work on structured tasks such as homework, lab experiments and design projects. It is administered under conditions that meet five criteria: positive interdependence, individual accountability, face-to-face interactions to fit in co-operation skills and regular internal-evaluation team functioning.
Many studies have shown that, if properly implemented, cooperative learning improves many aspects, such as information on obtaining and maintaining a higher-level thinking, interpersonal and communication skills and confidence. At that seeks to promote some of the benefits of individual freedom and cooperation in learning.
• Opportunities. This may be an advantage if the curriculum is better to release the student'musical talent. Must be given such a chance to play and compete - either solo or group, which represents the school in music-related activities and various competitions.
• exposure. Also, as well as opportunities, exposure can be of great benefit to a greater state interest. Knowledge and information on several musical scenes in the fact that they look forward to meeting other music. They attend concerts, recital or group of tests. Visit some of the professional or traditional recording studios can be fun and exciting ways to learn music and to reveal them in the real world.
All of these innovative and effective teaching strategies and resources of music, I've read so sure that you could meet your academic goals and vision. Good luck and happy learning!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Music Teachers Resources: A Step Closer to Highly Motivated Students
Do you have what it takes to be tagged as an effective and efficient music teacher? Do you consistently get your students’ enthusiasm over learning new tricks and ideas on music? Do you know how to make them hooked and determined in pursuing arts and music either as their profession or as their passion? Well, in here, you will learn some inputs on various music teachers resources so as how to create and mold highly motivated learners.
A music teacher like you always intends to improve teaching strategies and techniques to effectively acquire students’ attention, curiosity, interest and motivation. Either, he browses the web, makes rigid and reliable researches, attends seminars, conferences and workshops, or participates in different online forums and discussions, all these efforts fall into one definite objective: to achieve professional growth and fulfillment.
Educators in different fields should always remember to create motivation in the classroom – either through interactive activities or fun discussions and lectures. Getting your students’ attention is not enough; they may always appear or seem listening – pretending that they are paying much attention over some things in a particular session but definitely without comprehension and understanding. Indeed, motivation in the learning process is a necessity.
In any educational institutions, the administrations and the educators themselves must learn how to naturally inculcate and integrate motivation in the learning process. Student motivation particularly intrinsic motivation, which refers to such urge and perseverance from oneself, has been believed to be a crucial part of the learning process. However, once this is effectively acquired and practiced, the learning accordingly becomes continuous, improved, interesting and enjoyable.
Though they say it takes two to tango, you as a music teacher take a major and vital role in this endeavor – taking much responsibility for its success. You must develop and encourage classroom motivation – finding more creative and innovative ways to motivate your students achieve and work hard to meet their potentials, goals and dreams.
In music teaching, you must understand that not all students are interested in learning music or even have the heart for music itself. Therefore, you have to accept that it does demand much patience, discipline and determination on your end.
More so, there have been many ways to establish motivation in the classroom. First, give your student some good chances to make personal choices and decisions. Though they still should be guided, you may give them a little space and freedom to set some objectives, options and alternatives on their own.
When they think you support them all the way while they never feel neglected and suppressed, they can establish within themselves the kind of confidence, self-esteem and camaraderie they intend to. When they are able to complete assignments, tasks and activities that they think are complex and relatively new, they instantly feel good about themselves.
Consequently, music teachers are encouraged to relate each lesson and task to real life situations. On this light, giving them such appreciation, acknowledgment and incentives can indeed be a very good motivational technique. Reward instead of punishment is believed to create a more positive and productive result. Music students tend to look forward to achieving such incentives and rewards – making them more excited to accomplish anything in relation to their music classes and academic performances.
Furthermore, motivation should be established not only among learners but also among educators of music. So, learn, adopt and practice more motivating music teachers resources today and see how it can change each teaching and learning experience.
by: Earl Marsden
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/music_and_movies/article_1041.shtml
A music teacher like you always intends to improve teaching strategies and techniques to effectively acquire students’ attention, curiosity, interest and motivation. Either, he browses the web, makes rigid and reliable researches, attends seminars, conferences and workshops, or participates in different online forums and discussions, all these efforts fall into one definite objective: to achieve professional growth and fulfillment.
Educators in different fields should always remember to create motivation in the classroom – either through interactive activities or fun discussions and lectures. Getting your students’ attention is not enough; they may always appear or seem listening – pretending that they are paying much attention over some things in a particular session but definitely without comprehension and understanding. Indeed, motivation in the learning process is a necessity.
In any educational institutions, the administrations and the educators themselves must learn how to naturally inculcate and integrate motivation in the learning process. Student motivation particularly intrinsic motivation, which refers to such urge and perseverance from oneself, has been believed to be a crucial part of the learning process. However, once this is effectively acquired and practiced, the learning accordingly becomes continuous, improved, interesting and enjoyable.
Though they say it takes two to tango, you as a music teacher take a major and vital role in this endeavor – taking much responsibility for its success. You must develop and encourage classroom motivation – finding more creative and innovative ways to motivate your students achieve and work hard to meet their potentials, goals and dreams.
In music teaching, you must understand that not all students are interested in learning music or even have the heart for music itself. Therefore, you have to accept that it does demand much patience, discipline and determination on your end.
More so, there have been many ways to establish motivation in the classroom. First, give your student some good chances to make personal choices and decisions. Though they still should be guided, you may give them a little space and freedom to set some objectives, options and alternatives on their own.
When they think you support them all the way while they never feel neglected and suppressed, they can establish within themselves the kind of confidence, self-esteem and camaraderie they intend to. When they are able to complete assignments, tasks and activities that they think are complex and relatively new, they instantly feel good about themselves.
Consequently, music teachers are encouraged to relate each lesson and task to real life situations. On this light, giving them such appreciation, acknowledgment and incentives can indeed be a very good motivational technique. Reward instead of punishment is believed to create a more positive and productive result. Music students tend to look forward to achieving such incentives and rewards – making them more excited to accomplish anything in relation to their music classes and academic performances.
Furthermore, motivation should be established not only among learners but also among educators of music. So, learn, adopt and practice more motivating music teachers resources today and see how it can change each teaching and learning experience.
by: Earl Marsden
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/music_and_movies/article_1041.shtml
Whispering Is Bad For Singers. And Other Tips For New Vocalists.
When music students ask how to prepare for a show I always tell them the same things, practice your material right before you go to bed and get plenty of sleep. When a vocal student asks the same question the list gets a little bit longer. For those who have not studied the voice as an instrument it may come as a shock how careful one must be with it. Here are a few guidelines for new vocalists, courtesy of Mark Erwin from the School of Rock Music, St. Paul, MN. (http://www.schoolofrock.com)
One of the most important things to remember is that we don’t ever want to over stress our instrument. We all know that the fastest way to lose our voice is to yell or scream- as we often do when we go see our rock heroes. There is a time to be a fan and there is a time to be a vocalist. The day before your show is not the time to be a screaming fan!
But there are many less obvious ways to strain your instrument that vocalists need to remember. When we get a tickle or feel phlegm in our throat our first thought is to clear it. The classic “eh hem” is one of the most damaging things you can do to your voice and yet it is the most common reaction. Instead, vocalists should drink water and swallow a couple of times to clear the irritation. Another common misperception is that we should protect our voice by whispering. Did you know that our vocal chords work twice as hard when we whisper? This brings me to my last point on common ways we strain our voice without knowing it- voice placement. Many of us speak in a vocal range far lower than we are meant to, causing continual strain on our vocal chords. Yawn out loud for a moment. Notice how high your voice is. Well my friend- that is your natural vocal range!
There are also certain foods and beverages that should not be consumed the day of a show. Though you may not think you have any food allergies, it is very common to have an extremely mild allergy to dairy products, wheat products and nuts. Your body’s natural reaction to the allergen is to create phlegm in the throat. Not only can phlegm alter the tone of your voice, it will make you want to clear it- bringing us back to my earlier point. Vocalists also want to stay away from food and beverage products that contain caffeine or high levels of acidity. Both caffeine and citric acid will dry out your vocal chords, again causing unneeded strain on your instrument. In addition, products with a high level of acidity like fruits and some vegetables can cause acid reflux- which in some cases may result in the loss of your voice all together.
Being aware of your voice and the things that can damage it are the first step. We may not have to plug into a tuner, change broken strings, or cart around heavy kick drums, but we do have an instrument to care for.
by: Stacey Marmolejo
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/music_and_movies/article_1049.shtml
One of the most important things to remember is that we don’t ever want to over stress our instrument. We all know that the fastest way to lose our voice is to yell or scream- as we often do when we go see our rock heroes. There is a time to be a fan and there is a time to be a vocalist. The day before your show is not the time to be a screaming fan!
But there are many less obvious ways to strain your instrument that vocalists need to remember. When we get a tickle or feel phlegm in our throat our first thought is to clear it. The classic “eh hem” is one of the most damaging things you can do to your voice and yet it is the most common reaction. Instead, vocalists should drink water and swallow a couple of times to clear the irritation. Another common misperception is that we should protect our voice by whispering. Did you know that our vocal chords work twice as hard when we whisper? This brings me to my last point on common ways we strain our voice without knowing it- voice placement. Many of us speak in a vocal range far lower than we are meant to, causing continual strain on our vocal chords. Yawn out loud for a moment. Notice how high your voice is. Well my friend- that is your natural vocal range!
There are also certain foods and beverages that should not be consumed the day of a show. Though you may not think you have any food allergies, it is very common to have an extremely mild allergy to dairy products, wheat products and nuts. Your body’s natural reaction to the allergen is to create phlegm in the throat. Not only can phlegm alter the tone of your voice, it will make you want to clear it- bringing us back to my earlier point. Vocalists also want to stay away from food and beverage products that contain caffeine or high levels of acidity. Both caffeine and citric acid will dry out your vocal chords, again causing unneeded strain on your instrument. In addition, products with a high level of acidity like fruits and some vegetables can cause acid reflux- which in some cases may result in the loss of your voice all together.
Being aware of your voice and the things that can damage it are the first step. We may not have to plug into a tuner, change broken strings, or cart around heavy kick drums, but we do have an instrument to care for.
by: Stacey Marmolejo
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/music_and_movies/article_1049.shtml
Friday, May 8, 2009
How To Fix Acoustic Guitar Buzz
There are many bits on an acoustic guitar that can rattle against each other to make a buzzing noise. Most can be easily fixed once you become aware of them but tracking that guitar buzz down can be a problem if you don't know where to look.
The first place to look for the cause of buzzing guitar is the guitar player. If you are not pressing down on the strings with the correct amount of pressure, the strings will buzz or sound muffled. This might not be entirely your fault if the guitar's action is too low. If the strings are too close to the frets you will get a buzz that no amount of pressure on the strings will fix.
To fix low action on an acoustic guitar is a matter of going to a guitar store and getting a bridge bone that will lift the strings higher. If the notches in the guitar nut are too deep this will also cause buzzing but that is the least likely cause unless someone deliberately cut the notches deeper. If the slots in the nut are too wide, this will also cause a buzz. A quick fix for low action is a match stick slipped under the bridge bone. If you find the guitar too hard to play now, it's because you have made the action too high.
If the guitar is old, you may have frets that are too worn. This will make the strings buzz against the higher frets. All the frets on the guitar need to be the same height.
If you are using strings that have balls on the ends, check that the balls are tight up against the bridge. If you find one that is not, unwind the string and reseat the ball so it is snug. The loose ends of nylon strings can also buzz against the bridge so if you have a classical style guitar, check the ends of the strings lying against the bridge.
The machine heads - the tuners at the top of the neck - can become loose with age, rattle around. It is probably best to not get involved in repairing them. Just buy a new set.
If you have checked all these parts without identifying the cause of the buzz, take your guitar to a luthier or a local guitar dealer to get it checked out. Sometimes there can be loose parts on an acoustic guitar that are not readily accessible that might need some guitar surgery to fix.
By: Gyorgy Huba
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
The first place to look for the cause of buzzing guitar is the guitar player. If you are not pressing down on the strings with the correct amount of pressure, the strings will buzz or sound muffled. This might not be entirely your fault if the guitar's action is too low. If the strings are too close to the frets you will get a buzz that no amount of pressure on the strings will fix.
To fix low action on an acoustic guitar is a matter of going to a guitar store and getting a bridge bone that will lift the strings higher. If the notches in the guitar nut are too deep this will also cause buzzing but that is the least likely cause unless someone deliberately cut the notches deeper. If the slots in the nut are too wide, this will also cause a buzz. A quick fix for low action is a match stick slipped under the bridge bone. If you find the guitar too hard to play now, it's because you have made the action too high.
If the guitar is old, you may have frets that are too worn. This will make the strings buzz against the higher frets. All the frets on the guitar need to be the same height.
If you are using strings that have balls on the ends, check that the balls are tight up against the bridge. If you find one that is not, unwind the string and reseat the ball so it is snug. The loose ends of nylon strings can also buzz against the bridge so if you have a classical style guitar, check the ends of the strings lying against the bridge.
The machine heads - the tuners at the top of the neck - can become loose with age, rattle around. It is probably best to not get involved in repairing them. Just buy a new set.
If you have checked all these parts without identifying the cause of the buzz, take your guitar to a luthier or a local guitar dealer to get it checked out. Sometimes there can be loose parts on an acoustic guitar that are not readily accessible that might need some guitar surgery to fix.
By: Gyorgy Huba
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
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