Thursday, October 15, 2009
Cutting Students
From a blog about teaching music called "Welcome to Education" I found an elementary and middle school teacher that would cut his students from parts that they were not able to play. Being cut from parts is not an unfamiliar concept to me, this summer, when I marched with the Glassmen, cutting people from parts was one of the quick and easy way to clean certain parts of the show. Although this was a quick fix to clean up some musical aspects of drum corps, I think that it is widely inappropriate to cut students in middle school and especially in elementary school from their band music. When students are learning music for the first time they should NEVER be told not to play and not to try to get something write. This can be devastating for a child. I do not believe in "cutting" students from parts until at LEAST high school.
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Rocco, I completely agree. I feel that students should never be told not to play. For it is not the student's fault, it is the teacher's for not helping their student out.
ReplyDeleteRocco, I liked your post - one piece of advice though... think carefully about your post titles. It scared me for a second. Cutting elementary students and even middle school students from parts seems really harsh.
ReplyDelete@Allison- HAH! Cutting students....pssh!
ReplyDeleteRocco, I think you're absolutely right. We hear too many stories of people that got discouraged, cut, or were flat out told that they shouldn't play or sing. These people can be our friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers or even (GASP) our administrators. While I think that cutting students out of parts is an unacceptable way to deal with part-learning, it is even more astounding to think of how many more allies we as music educators might have if students did not grow up having had these negative experiences.
I will even argue that high school students shouldn't be cut from parts. There is almost always a way to work around issues like this including altering a part, simplifying a section, working with the individuals who are struggling, or simply dealing with the imperfection. I think it's more important to have all students involved and feeling like they have ownership over the group's performance than to have a perfect sound or completely precise technique. Notation software can make a few of these options much easier. In the worst case scenario when you feel you must cut someone out of a section, the part can be entered into Notation software with the trouble section omitted (filled in with rests). Then at least the students don't feel as if they are being cut, since their part dictates that they don't play there.
ReplyDeleteHi Rocco,
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree that high school should be the minimum grade level before cutting students from parts. Students should be given plenty of time to learn their music and teachers should know that some are going to struggle with the repertoire. Middle school students would be incredibly discouraged, possibly to the point of leaving the band, and parents would be upset too, of course. Such tactics could create a competitive environment which many young students will have difficulty handling. Thank you for mentioning this "Welcome to Education" blog. I'm going to add it to my PLN.
I agree...and I disagree to a certain extent.
ReplyDeleteI agree, no student should be put in a position where it's sink or swim too early in their career. Chances are they could very well drown.
However, if a conductor writes comprehensive assignments for their students. And monitors students progress throughout the semester in order to aid the student in learning as best as they can, I see no reason why someone who is not capable should be asked to play something they are not able to.
This can be just as damaging as cutting them from the part. It mearly boils down to doing what's best for the student.