In addition to playing in a band with my adult friends, I have also had the opportunity to perform in bands with my students. At my school talent shows, I'm usually asked to join a band in need of a guitarist or bassist. It is a great opportunity to work with kids as equals.
I also provide assistance in the set up. I make sure everyone is soundchecked. Well this year I got my band set up but did not check the other band on the bill. They fired up and Cory the guitar player was way too loud. This totally angered his band mates. Most guitar players love to hear "turn it up" but afterward feel horrible about drowning everyone out.
In school we need to do a soundcheck too. We need to make sure everyone is heard. Sure there is always one kid that wants to hog the stage, the teacher has to be the soundman to make sure the all the instruments are balanced and everyone is heard.
I heard a great quote by Benjamin Zander, he is conductor and came upon a great notion that he never makes a sound. In rock and roll the sound man serves the same purpose. He never makes a sound but ensures that everyone is heard. What a great role for a teacher to play.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Friday, May 19, 2006
Imitate, Assimilate, Innovate
OK, So I strayed from Rock and Roll this time. I'm basically a 3 chord rocker, but one week last summer I attended Jamey Aebersold's Summer Jazz Workshop. I was definitely a fish out of water. I was way over my head. I knew little about Jazz, it's history, and how to play it.
In 7 days I learned a lot about Jazz, and I also learned a lot about learning. Of the many stories and quotes I heard throughout the week, one by jazz pianist David Baker has stuck with me.
He said there are 3 steps to learning jazz. The first step is to imitate the people you listen to. The second step is to assimilate. Finally you innovate, and very few of us reach this step (according to David Baker) .
In college I learned a lot of learning models, many much more complicated than this. Mr. Baker captured learning in 3 words. Really powerful ideas that can be used in the classroom. Here is what I use in my classroom.
The first rule, imitation, really makes me think that kids need good models in the classroom. Models for them to imitate. Teachers need to create model (model writing, art, experiments) so students can imitate them. Teacher should also collect works from other students to serve as models. Models should show what is possible and excellent so that students can imitate them.
Second, student will assimilate the information needed to perform the task. Student can easily imitate, but in time of reflection they can assimilate the skills. Students need time to analyze what they have done so that they can assimilate the knowledge. It is one thing to imitate, another to understand why.
Last, innovation, we expect students to be creative and innovative before they imitate and assimilate. Impossible. Students need to be able to imitate then assimilate first. Also, few students will imitate. It is quite an accomplishment to just imitate and assimilate knowledge.
When I realized this, I understand the learning curve much better. Learning Jazz and learning are so closely related. These 3 rules now rule my learning, and they should yours.
In 7 days I learned a lot about Jazz, and I also learned a lot about learning. Of the many stories and quotes I heard throughout the week, one by jazz pianist David Baker has stuck with me.
He said there are 3 steps to learning jazz. The first step is to imitate the people you listen to. The second step is to assimilate. Finally you innovate, and very few of us reach this step (according to David Baker) .
In college I learned a lot of learning models, many much more complicated than this. Mr. Baker captured learning in 3 words. Really powerful ideas that can be used in the classroom. Here is what I use in my classroom.
The first rule, imitation, really makes me think that kids need good models in the classroom. Models for them to imitate. Teachers need to create model (model writing, art, experiments) so students can imitate them. Teacher should also collect works from other students to serve as models. Models should show what is possible and excellent so that students can imitate them.
Second, student will assimilate the information needed to perform the task. Student can easily imitate, but in time of reflection they can assimilate the skills. Students need time to analyze what they have done so that they can assimilate the knowledge. It is one thing to imitate, another to understand why.
Last, innovation, we expect students to be creative and innovative before they imitate and assimilate. Impossible. Students need to be able to imitate then assimilate first. Also, few students will imitate. It is quite an accomplishment to just imitate and assimilate knowledge.
When I realized this, I understand the learning curve much better. Learning Jazz and learning are so closely related. These 3 rules now rule my learning, and they should yours.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)