This post is going to be pretty short, and more like a journal than a blog - just an update on some observations about the education system I've experienced here.
Music classes at IESS are a snapshot from School of Rock, and Helena is Jack Black. It’s seriously just like that - she’s in a rock band outside of school and everything. Helena teaches her students to be rock stars, and it’s unbelievable to watch. Instead of notation-reading, rhythmic dictation, scales and studies, they largely learn how to play by ear. Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!! They learn power chords, how to control reverb, basic drum kit tech, and vocal/performance lessons on how to overcome shyness and let their inner rock stars shine.
And let me tell you, these kids are ROCKING HARD. They create mini bands within the class of 5-7 students each, and work out vocals (including harmonies), electric guitar, bass, drums and keyboard all on their own, with simple lead sheets. So far, they've played Proud Mary*, Highway to Hell, It's My Lifeand a few others, just to give you an idea. Helena is so full of energy, she just inspires every student she teaches. Yesterday she was talking to them about why they are working on performance. Besides the obvious “to show that we can do what we’ve been learning”-type of answers, they talked about how performance skills help you in your whole life. The students understand that being able to put yourself up in front of others is a skill that transfers to life: any kind of presentation they’ll give, any kind of interview they’ll go to, socially interacting and cooperating with others, leadership skills…the list goes on! Her best answer was, in a beautiful Swedish-English accent “your self confidence!”
*I GOT TO PLAY DRUMS!!
Right now she’s sitting across from me in her office, on her only break all day, helping students learn and adapt a pop song by ear so they can perform it at an upcoming concert. Today at lunch, her and Graeme, the other music teacher, prepared a performance of 2 jazz pieces for the lobby at lunch hour – literally 5 minutes or less of rehearsal before stage time.
Graeme’s class is fantastic as well! He mostly teaches the younger grades, 4-6, and he does an outstanding job. Much of his lessons are focused around discovery-based learning, and he really gives them time to explore instruments and sounds. The beauty of his lesson design is that it nurtures curiosity! Especially as students grow up, they’re given less and less time to just make noise, talk to each other, discover new things about an instrument, ask questions, and become interested in something…at least in Canada, that’s the case (in my experience). Today he let the year 5’s ‘find’ three different sounds on their chosen percussion instrument; write it down using symbols and be able to read it/perform 2 bars. It’s such a breath of fresh air to see that the students are given time to engage in this type of learning.
Not sure if I've mentioned it before, but the curriculum here is so much more vague than in Canada. There are expectations that have to be met every 3 years (instead of every year, or grade). Unfortunately, this does mean that not every kid coming out of year 9 will have the same information (even the expectations are vague) but it does give the teachers a lot more flexibility - something I've been hungry for in my other practicums. After the experience of working in this system, I'm not sure if I'll ever want to teach in Canada...
Swedish lesson for the day:
Du ar snell – you are nice
Kan jag f(o)ar en... - can I have a...
Until Next Time,
Beckers
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