Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Post 6
I think service learning is a surprising application of constructivism in a band class. According to Ormrod, service learning is an activity that promotes both learning and development while working for the betterment of others and the community (Ormrod 232). I can show my students this by having my students give a vocal concert at a local nursing home. Even if my students are instrumentalists in a band, it is important for them to know how to sing. Band directors always say that if you can sing it, you can play it. I never thought that was true until I came to college and experienced it. Singing music, even if it may not sound absolutely beautiful, allows for much more expression and requires that the musician know the intervals and pitches, instead of relying on their instrument to hit the notes and intervals for them. The new knowledge of pitches, intervals, and natural expression through voice can then be transfered to the instrument. Not only does the student learn how to be more musical and musically accurate, the students are bringing joy to the elderly. At first, I think my students might react a bit negatively and wonder why the band director (me) is making them sing. My initial reaction would make a smart comment that if I wanted to sing that I would have joined choir. However, I think after a few rehearsals, the students might come to enjoy the singing practice and would have a lot of fun at the nursing home. Therefore, the students would be learning a new 'instrument' and new found musicality while contributing to the community.
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Sarah, I actually really love your idea like all the way around. I could imagine that the students would wonder why they are singing and not practicing their instrument, but maybe this would encourage them and help them to find out that they actually can sing and would maybe find a way to do band and choir. That's what I did in middle school when I played the flute. I went to band Mon., Tues. Thurs., and Fri., and went to choir every Wednesday. The idea behind it was if I can play music notes with an instrument then I would be able to read and sing the music just fine. I later realized I liked to sing way more than I liked to play the flute, but it still all worked out and I found out that I can sing, well, a little!?!? Anyways, I also like the fact that you picked to go to a nursing home to go to and have them sing. That is so sweet and I bet the elderly people would absolutely love hearing them sing, whether it is beautiful or not, I bet it would bring a smile to their faces and that almost makes the assignment "pay for itself." Overall, I LOVE this idea and you should really do it someday! Good job and keep up the good ideas! :-)
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