Teaching Music Theory (and where my summer has been spent)

I have just recently returned from my AP Music Theory class at Winthrop. I really enjoyed seeing my school but I sure did miss home. Any way, I spent a few weeks talking about and learning about teaching AP Music Theory. What did I learn most? Simple...I don't teach music theory like most other teachers. I teach it from a composition view point. Many other teach it from an aural skills and ear training view point. Which is correct? I don't really know. I do know that my music theory class went from 14 students to 40 in one year so I guess somebody liked how I taught the class.

Why teach composition? Well if you look at the hierarchy of musical understanding this is it:

1. Listening to music

2. Playing music

3. Analyzing music

4. Composing music

So I guess I strive to teach to the upper end of musical understanding. Shouldn't I?

The Equalizer...Fishing

Yes, I fish a lot. I am on the water about 50-60 days a year and that's a lot. Today I went out and got a later start than I prefer...about 7:30 a.m...that is late for me. Any way, I caught a bunch of fish...maybe 70. Most were small but non the less they fought hard and I turned them all loose. I saw some others fishing too and they were no catching. Why? I don't really know but maybe I have a deal with the fish, I have always thought so. Any way, there are no politics in fishing The fish don't care where you went to school. They don't care where you live. They don't care who you know. They just care about being fish, and being a fish ain't too bad, if you don't get caught!

Just Earn It!

This is a poster I have in my home office (man room). I love it because one thing is for sure, my hero Earned it. That might be what it really means too. I look at this picture and see a smug, cocky, over achiever and smile. You see, Dale Earnhardt never graduated high school. He only finished 8th grade to make his mom happy. He EARNED it the hard way or did he? There is nothing wrong with hard work and hard work really isn't work when you like ( or dare I say love) what you do.
Perhaps our great country would be a better place if we all EARNED it a bit more.

Perspective...

Perspective -One's point of view, the choice of a context for opinions, beliefs, and experiences

Perspective means everything in art. If you don't have background in a certain field though, you may lack perspective.

Cindy and I love to go look at art. I can remember vividly the day we were in Chicago and had some down time to be tourists. (We love being tourists!) We made a choice to go the the Art Institute of Chicago. We love art, but being the uninformed we are, we had no idea what we were about to enter. Several hours later, we knew. We had entered one of the most amazing places on Earth. It is one thing to see a work of art on the Internet or on TV, but to see it, smell it, and yes feel it for real...no words can describe.

Back to my topic though, perspective. The first time you see a Picasso and have no idea what it is you see, you may lack inspiration. Just a bunch of lines or weird looking people...perhaps. But have some knowledge. Have some experience. Have an open mind. You might just find something within yourself.