Don't Stop the Music - Channel 4

[MrGongGong]

I've probably said enough
but the second episode of this "drama" is on tomorrow night

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I've probably said enough
but the second episode of this "drama" is on tomorrow night

I can't say I'm at all encouraged by this report.

http://www.mi-pro.co.uk/news/read/new-reports-shows-upsurge-in-uk-musicians/019257

[MrGongGong]

I can't say I'm at all encouraged by this report.

http://www.mi-pro.co.uk/news/read/ne...sicians/019257

I've not digested it yet
BUT it seems to be in direct contradiction to the story we are being told on CH4 ?

[Serial_Apologist]

I can't say I'm at all encouraged by this report.

http://www.mi-pro.co.uk/news/read/ne...sicians/019257

Oh I don't know. Depends on what you find discouraging. Personally I don't see any problem with computer aids to composition as long as these are facilitating and not limiting in terms of sonority or complexity, remembering as I do the extraordinary funky big band score cobbled together by a bass guitar friend as long ago as in the early '90s on his Sibelius. When it comes to more advanced composition and performance students should be appraised of the historical practicalities and difficulties pre-computerisation, and learn of the advantages of modern technology as well as its potential for creative limitation. I would think more interest in eg electric and bass guitar, keyboards and drum kits indicates a welcome turn to skilled learning on acoustic instruments to compare with eg the automatised rhythm machines purported to have brought a generation into "creative" pop music making in the early 1980s.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

BUT it seems to be in direct contradiction to the story we are being told on CH4 ?

It isn't even that. It's simply a fact that thousands of children can now bang out a 5-note tune very badly as a result of Wider Opportunities. Little cause for celebration unless they can progress from there.

[DracoM]

Exactly - as in ALL education, it's what happens NEXT. You can do the first lesson PR, but how you follow up is key.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A "consultant" once came in to my school to show me how to teach music. He was only going to do one lesson, but I asked for three, to which he agreed. Lesson 1 in the first week was great - the children loved it and it inspired them. Lesson 2 was a nightmare.
Lesson 3 never happened; he called to postpone it and promised to get back to me. That was more than 20 years ago…

I think he only had one stock lesson.

[french frank]

I think reading: "76 per cent of UK children aged 5-14 say they ‘know how to play’ compared with 41 per cent in 1999" you have to admit that Something Is Happening.

Though is does remind me of the children who say they 'know a foreign language'.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Though is does remind me of the children who say they 'know a foreign language'.

Exactly. For many it is merely a tick-box. In my opinion, these Wider Opportunities schemes work better when appropriate instruments are used. Having a full class of year 4s attempting to play clarinets that are too heavy and require too large a fingerspan, is doomed to failure as a group activity. Ocarina, recorders and other small instruments are much better choices for this age range. Strings are generally more successful, as these can be made in smaller sizes, still producing sounds at the same pitch.

[DracoM]

There are now plastic trombones / bassoons that are far lighter and easier to handle but make a great noise.

[vinteuil]

There are now plastic trombones / bassoons that are far lighter and easier to handle but make a great noise.

... "make a great noise".

Ah, I love the ambiguities of the English langwidge....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Though is does remind me of the children who say they 'know a foreign language'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNfGyIW7aHM

[MrGongGong]

Exactly. For many it is merely a tick-box. In my opinion, these Wider Opportunities schemes work better when appropriate instruments are used. Having a full class of year 4s attempting to play clarinets that are too heavy and require too large a fingerspan, is doomed to failure as a group activity. Ocarina, recorders and other small instruments are much better choices for this age range. Strings are generally more successful, as these can be made in smaller sizes, still producing sounds at the same pitch.

The whole issue of learning curves seems never to be addressed IMV
After 6 months learning the clarinet people are able to make a predictable sound and play together successfully
after 6 months learning the violin ?

I know this is heresy to some but IMV the recorder is a terrible instrument for children to start on. It requires far too much accurate breath control (my usual technique is to do a live electronics thing, take them down a couple of octaves and add a huge reverb !).... Much better to play the penny whistle or ocarina. In Irish primary schools everyone learns the whistle and because it's part of what people do outside school it seems to be more valued.

But I guess that's not good TV ?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Rather than the ocarina or the fife, why not try the fyffe? An instrument designed by the Fyffes bana company in the 1950s:-

[MrGongGong]

Rather than the ocarina or the fife, why not try the fyffe? An instrument designed by the Fyffes bana company in the 1950s:-

Genius
do they do a sub contrabass ?

Jonathan Savage is always worth reading on these things

http://www.jsavage.org.uk/research/making-music-mixed-bag-abrsm/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=making-music-mixed-bag-abrsm

and THIS ??????? WTF are they on about ?

http://www.protectmusiceducation.org/beyond1900.html