So for an assessment as part of the Composition in Music Education unit (run by James also), we had to create some 'baby steps' for a composition task. Having just returned from Stringmania down in Victoria (which I will write about in a post eventually...), I thought it would be pretty neat to use some of the music we learnt as the model for the baby steps. I chose one specific tune, but it turns out Alasdair and Natalie had, with some other musicians, combined most of the tunes together for an album, which you can find here.
One of the requirements of these baby steps was that they did not start with notation, but rather playing. I thought what better tradition to start from than the Scottish fiddle tradition, through which everything is taught by ear! Having tunes constructed around basic scales such as the major and minor pentatonic scales and the good ol' major scale means students already have the available notes in their heads and under their fingers. The music is very approachable and, at least on the surface, relatively simple. This seeming simplicity can reduce barriers of entry for students who are nervous that they can not create something 'good' or 'artistic'.
As part of these baby steps I really encourage the students to play, listen and improvise. This is central to the tradition and are important skills for students to learn. For example, for the task under Let's Improvise (Part 2), I actually ask the student to work out the melody being played to them. I do give them the starting note and they scale, but I think it is important they practicing moving from listening into playing. If they are struggling, they can also bring up the piano roll in Soundtrap which will give them the notes. As such, they learn through copying and playing along, they learn through playing the scales and swapping note orders, and they learn through tightly guided improvisation.
If you want to see the website and make suggestions for improvements, follow the link here to check it out and comment below.
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