Klarinet Archive - Posting 000143.txt from 2006/03

From: o4rmondtoby@-----.net (Ormondtoby Montoya)
Subj: Re: [kl] Help with teaching
Date: Wed, 08 Mar 2006 11:05:37 -0500

Thank you for the suggestions. I'm going to try all of them over the
next few weeks/months.

I had been unaware of teaching aids such as movable magnetic notes and
putty notes on a staffed 'blackboard', but now that you have explained
them, I'm sure that I can find them with Google's help.

Last night I set up a keyboard, and when she is in a relaxed mood, I'm
going to see if she can find (by ear) a strong major-triad-based melody
such as "Michael Row The Boat" when I play it slowly on the keyboard.

Just so nobody misunderstands, I'm not an "instructor" (no skills).
The child, a family member, is unquestionably motivated (and
frustrated). She is the reason that I play clarinet, actually. Years
ago, she announced that she wanted to play clarinet, and I went the
usual route of renting and lessons. When she couldn't handle it and
gave up, I was 'stuck' with the rental contract and so I showed up at
the next lesson in her place. Over the years, she has never lost her
interest in music. She sings, but she always runs into the 'brick
wall' when the choirmaster hands out sheet music and says, "Everyone
should practice this, and we'll try it next week."

She does not have acuity problems, but she welcomes visual aids. I
presume that visual aids reduce the effort that is required of her,
thereby freeing up her resources for other aspects of the task. A
colored staff line for reference and tinted paper had never occurred to
me. She still anthropomorphizes (sp?) the notes sometimes --- Amazing
Adam, Bowinkle Bob, Cheerful Charlie, etc.

Thanks again! Much appreciated!

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org