This thread talks about using practice games in private lessons. I use games in my private horn lessons to introduce lots of ideas. Two websites that the thread mentions are HowtoPractice.com and The Penny Practice game. Since I try to integrate as much music theory as I can into my lessons, I play a major, minor, or modal scale and have the student try to guess what mode the scale is in. When they guess, I'll play a song in that mode to get the mode into their ear and incorporate it into the piece that we are working on that week. I'll also notate a few rhythms that the student is having trouble with, and have the student come back to me the next week with a 4 or 8 bar composition. I use noteflight for this, and since noteflight is a lot like a game, the more technologically inclined kids show me a lot about the program. The ones that don't are impressed by the notion that they can use a composition software, and then they tell their friends and parents about it. I have one student in particular that has written an entire etude based on one of the rhythm patterns that he was having trouble with. Now, he can pretty much read and play the rhythm flawlessly.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
What a cool idea Becky. I think that games are a wonderful way to get students to learn. I feel as though it adds another dimension to teaching strategies.
ReplyDeleteI know that both my parents use games in their classrooms to help their students; so why not in the music classroom as well?
Becky, I love using games to help students learn, especially in private lessons. In that setting, it is great to be able to tailor the games to the individual's needs. It also makes teaching more fun for the educator, as well!
ReplyDeleteBecky, thats a very interesting concept! Using games in lessons would be a great way to motivate students, especially about playing etudes and scales!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great resource! Thank you so much for sharing this. I don't have more than about a year and a half's worth of experience in teaching private lessons, but anything to keep the students going is a plus!
ReplyDeleteI'm very happy to learn that you are using Noteflight with your students! It sounds like you have some very creative approaches to helping your students learn. They are lucky to have you as a teacher!
ReplyDelete