Getting The Balance Right Between Music Theory And Practical In Schools
This is an issue facing most music educators – how much do you load students up with theoretical knowledge and how much do you just let them play?
There has never been a subject in which the practical aspect is more important than in music. Learning music should always be about doing in any school Singing, Movement, Playing and listening all play an important part.
No-one would disagree that music lessons in schools should have a lot of practical components. The only thing that I have found music teachers to disagree on is how much music theory the school lessons should include.
Music Theory can be a very dry and boring subject – if you let it! In a high school or junior high or setting studying keys, scales, transposition and modes can quickly seem irrelevant to the students.
What is important is to link the practical and the theory lessons as much as possible.If you can take a piece the students are currently playing, and start the theory lesson by looking at that you’ll have much more success.
If your school has a Rock based curriculum it is easy: you simply program a theory lesson after each practical lesson. In this lesson plan the students can a)find and listen to a recording of the song they are playing b) study the manuscript of the song they are learning Engage in theory activities and exercises based on this music that are suitable to their current level d) think about suitable arrangements for instruments that would suit the music.
The theory lesson could be similar if your school has a more traditional band or classical program. The traditional approach is to choose a theory book and make them go through each activity in order, despite the order that they should do things. Instead you could pick an activity based on the problems or challenges they are currently facing in band or orchestra, and choose a worksheet based on that.
If music teachers can take more of this integrated approach, then music theory lessons will become much more fun for children studying music in schools.
The Author, Kevin Tuck is an experienced music teacher, having taught music in schools and in his own music school. Kevin now edits music theory worksheets in his role of editor for the fun music company.
