HOW THIS CLASS WORKS
This class may work a little differently than you're used to - even if you took Guitar at CMMS last year. Allow me to explain:
Instead of using the "one-size-fits-all" model of teaching, this semester I will:
- Use videos to supplement in-person learning: Sometimes I'll record my own videos; other times I will share videos I've found. You can watch these videos in class and can re-watch them as many times as you need in order to understand (even at home!)
- Help you learn at your own pace: Learning to play an instrument TAKES TIME! If you don't have parents who love you enough to force you to take other music lessons you will also be learning to understand the language of music. If you are ready to move on to new skills quickly, you won't have to wait. If you need time or extra support, I will be free to help you personally during class.
- Make sure you understand: I don't want you to move on to more advanced skills until you are truly ready for it. You will need to practice in class and show what you know along the way by completing Mastery Checks. It makes sense for us to overlap one unit with the next -- our brains need a lot of time to develop the coordination to be able to execute specific skills. As soon as you can perform a set of skills to a certain level (there's a video for that!), you will be ready to record the end-of-unit Playing Tests. You will have time to work on the skills you need to develop; YOU WILL NOT HAVE TIME TO NOT TO WORK IN CLASS & AT HOME
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You may have some questions if this approach is new to you. Here are some questions I am often asked:
Does this approach really work? Part of the reason I've chosen to use this approach is that it's backed by rigorous academic research. Decades of studies have demonstrated the benefits of blended, self-paced, and mastery-based learning, and research by the Modern Classrooms Project shows that learners in Modern Classrooms feel more engaged, more capable, and more effective than learners in traditional classrooms.
The Modern Classrooms Project is currently studying the effects of this model on student achievement. Please contact [email protected] to learn more.
What if I can't learn from videos?
Videos are part of how you'll learn in this class, but they aren't the only way. In addition to videos, I'll also be working with you and your classmates as a whole class, in small groups, and one-on-one. You can also work with your classmates! So videos will be a helpful tool, but not the only tool.
Also, think about things you'd like to learn outside of school. Would you ever watch a video on YouTube to learn a new dance move, recipe, video game strategy, or anything else? If so, you can learn from videos in school too!
What will you be doing during class time?
It's true that, in this class, I won't be standing at the front of the room every day. Instead, I will be:
Does this approach really work? Part of the reason I've chosen to use this approach is that it's backed by rigorous academic research. Decades of studies have demonstrated the benefits of blended, self-paced, and mastery-based learning, and research by the Modern Classrooms Project shows that learners in Modern Classrooms feel more engaged, more capable, and more effective than learners in traditional classrooms.
The Modern Classrooms Project is currently studying the effects of this model on student achievement. Please contact [email protected] to learn more.
What if I can't learn from videos?
Videos are part of how you'll learn in this class, but they aren't the only way. In addition to videos, I'll also be working with you and your classmates as a whole class, in small groups, and one-on-one. You can also work with your classmates! So videos will be a helpful tool, but not the only tool.
Also, think about things you'd like to learn outside of school. Would you ever watch a video on YouTube to learn a new dance move, recipe, video game strategy, or anything else? If so, you can learn from videos in school too!
What will you be doing during class time?
It's true that, in this class, I won't be standing at the front of the room every day. Instead, I will be:
- Working closely with you and your classmates, individually and in small groups.
- Giving you prompt feedback on your work, so you can improve right away.
- Getting to know you as a person, not just a name on my roster.