GTCNI Professional Development Bursary
1.Activity Undertaken
The activity I chose was to take lessons on how to teach the electric guitar, although I already knew how to play the acoustic guitar, I did not have any training on the electric guitar. The way it is used and taught is very different from the acoustic. The knowledge I gained included; First steps in teaching electric guitar; Electric Guitar techniques.; Application of guitar to different musical rhythms; Riffs and playing styles; Orchestration of the guitar as part of a band.
2.Teacher Outcomes
As a result of this activity I have been able to deliver a more effective way of teaching the electric guitar and gained knowledge and ability to play across a wide range of musical styles. As a result I will be more effective at motivating the pupils, as I will be able to teach them from a starting base using their own music preference. The pupils will be taught the electric guitar in a systematic way and they will be able to achieve a measure of success early on in the lessons. Public performance of their skills and accreditation in Rock Guitar Grades 1 – 4,will raise thepupil’s self-esteem.
3.Pupil’s Learning Experience
This activity was identified initially because a high percentage of pupils coming to the school have low self-esteem and learning a skill (in this case the electric guitar) gives them a boost to their feeling of self worth. By learning these skills I have seen withdrawn and school ‘phobic’ pupils begin to come out of their introverted state and start communicating with peers and teachers. The electric guitar gives a quicker result than the acoustic guitar in terms of the pupils believing they can learn a new skill and play a recognizable song.
With recent programmes on television, such as RockSchool this has raised the aspirations of a number of otherwise disaffected pupils; this interest should be encouraged by schools as it is a high motivational factor for pupils to participate in school activities.
4.Evaluation of Activity
This activity was undertaken with Ossia School of Music in East Belfast, and weekly half hour sessions were held to develop the above skills. The importance of going to a tutor cannot be underestimated as he was able to immediately correct errors in the various techniques needed to use the electric guitar effectively. The benefits to the school can be evaluated through the number of pupils engaging in public performances at school and the number of pupils being accredited at the various grades of Rock Guitar.
5.Cascading of Skills
Teachers in this school have become increasingly aware of the importance of pupil’s learning a life skill which they can take with them when they leave school. “A groundbreaking study published in the Fall/Winter 2003 issue ofAdvances in Mind-Body Medicinedemonstrates that a six-week program of Recreational Music-making not only reduced burnout in long-term care workers, but also reduced Total Mood Disturbance by 46 percent. Behavior and conditions that define a child as at risk are part of a self-perpetuating cycle of failure across generations, a cycle of failure that often manifests itself through school dropouts. Participation in the arts in school can help at-risk youth break this cycle.” Therefore there are benefits to both Teachers and Pupils who develop skills in the arts.
6.Reflection of value and Effectiveness of the Activity
I have gained more confidence in teaching the instrument and an awareness of the different musical styles, which has led to pupils learning at a faster rate. As a result of the activity it is hoped that more pupils will participate in guitar sessions and go on to achieve Rock Guitar grades progressing from 1-4. The cost of bringing in a specialist tutor on a regular basis to teach pupils in the school has proved prohibitive in the past, so this bursary will enable the school to use those resources elsewhere. However a link with Ossia School of Music has now been established and they will provide pre-exam instruction for those pupils who go forward to sit a Rock School Music Grade.
7.Future Plans
The electric guitar is only one instrument amongst, normally, at least three others in a band. It is hoped that at least one band can be formed each year to perform at the school. It is a giant leap for some of the pupils in the school to move from solo playing to cooperating with others in a band. I am also hoping to chronicle the mental health benefits of learning to play and playing a musical instrument for pupils in the school.