I was supposed to facilitate conversation for the previous week, and well, the previous week got away from me. Oops. I'm sorry guys :/
But I guess I waited and here it goes, and I actually got some inspiration for a question/issue. We had a local chapter workshop yesterday with Victoria Redfearn Cave (some of you may have seen her before, and she presented in Pittsburgh). It was an AMAZING workshop based upon movement, movement particularly with older kids (boys), and movement's relationship with art. So my thought provoking topic for you:
What would be your defense to this question: "Why are you doing movement in music class? Isn't it music class?"
We briefly discussed this, but I figured it would be "thought-provoking" for us because as Orff practitioners, we don't really separate the two.
I'll give you a topic... discuss ;)
Wholeheartedly agree with Glen!! I think he really gets to the heart of the matter. With what Glen said as the underlying idea, I think it's also about the idea of educating the WHOLE child and not falsely compartmentalizing learning, which is done far too often. Effective learning happens more often and for far more kids when children can access a subject from multiple vantage points (auditory, visual, kinesthetic, tactile), rather than having a teacher attempt to "hammer" things into them in only one way. In addition to the intrinsic, ancient relationship that exists between movement and music in particular, movement itself is also another highly effective learning tool that can and should be used with a variety of subjects.
ReplyDeleteI'm grateful for this question and for this conversation.
ReplyDeleteUntil two years ago, when I took the Level I class, my response to "why?" would have amounted to, "because that's what I was told to do in my methods classes." I was left with the understanding that this would make my lessons more engaging.
I finally am coming to understand that it's so much more than that. Expression and timing are two components that I am learning to address through movement. Of course, I understand these kinesthetic experiences are valuable for the movers, but I'm also beginning to understand that the "visuals" that result from these activities are extremely helpful to some of my visual learners. Sometimes, I think that these kids are better able to understand what is taking place musically based on what they see in other students' movements.
It's amazing to me to think about all of the possible connections that result from the collaboration necessary to create and learn this content.
For the past two weeks I have been talking with my students about "why movement matters." I think I have them convinced...at least for a little while. They definitely "get" that movement can teach musical concepts; as Rob points out the kinesthetic experience makes things tangible...and visible. And folk dancing brings so many wonderful cultural connections to the table. But what about creative movement...you know, those times when you're making statues or exploring ways to move as if you're under water, or working in small groups to recreate the shape of leaves?
ReplyDeleteI hope you we can stand behind those creative moments with a rationale. I had someone challenge this recently in an Orff class and I was a bit thrown off. "What would I say to my principal, if he walked through the door?" Hmmmmm.
And speaking of the wonderful workshop with Victoria Redfern Cave, I recommend that everyone read a recent article of hers in the Orff Echo, Creativity is Messy (or something like that). Imagine that!
Me again.....The article by Victoria Redfer Cave is in the Summer 2010 Echo. The title is "Magic is Messy: The Challenge of Creativity in the Classroom." Check out this idea: "We are all challenged by traditional educationalists who often present obstacles to any pedagogy focusing on developing children's creativity." That really hits home with me in my work with movement. The heart of the matter is "any pedagogy" designed to cultivate/develop children's creativity. Is anyone else experiencing challenges in this regard?
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