Band Camp … bringing music into the lives of students!
By Anne Stearns
As a Director of Music at an international school, I feel privileged to be at the frontier of music education. My mission is to kick-start a culture of music and to educate both students and parents, from their many different backgrounds, about the benefits which comes from learning to play a musical instrument.
Scientific research has proven that, more than any other activities, playing a musical instrument is the best form of exercise for our brains. Like a physical work out, disciplined and structured practice strengthens our brain functions and improves reasoning and Maths skills, allowing problems to be solved more effectively and creatively. It has also been shown that students, who at the start may have the same cognitive and neuro-processing level as others, can raise their level of function, after they have been exposed to a period of music learning.
My school teaches the Australian Curriculum and, further along the road, we aim to introduce IB Music. To do this, we need to dramatically raise the standard of our student’ s instrumental playing by giving our younger students the opportunity to learn to play musical instruments in class.
This year, we introduced the Grade 6‘ Band Camp’ program. This is a tried and tested optional co-curriculum program from around the world. When I saw the effects, I instinctively felt it was the right way to raise standards within a classroom setting. Every student selects and is given a wind instrument( flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone or percussion) for free, for one year. They learn to look after, assemble and play their instrument on their own or as a class wind band.
As each student has an iPad, I used various apps to deliver my‘ Band Camp’ curriculum. I created an iTunes U course; this delivers assignments and stores resources. It allows students to work at their own pace and is totally paperless. Students submit videos of their performances onto Seesaw, and this allows me to see, assess and give feedback on their work.
To keep students motivated throughout the course, I split the curriculum into manageable challenges called the“ Band Camp Stripes”. Each challenge is split into different colors, like the karate belt system, with an assessed test at the end. If they are successful, students receive a colored thread, a sticker for their class chart and move up to the next level. There is a competition between classes to win‘ Eric’, the music mascot, who spends a fortnight with the class who has made the most progress and individuals can win achievements for regular practice at home. Our top 25 % students are invited to join the“ Concert Band Camp”, which offers optional fast-track sessions. These students often have parents who have actively supported their child to practice at home.
It’ s not easy as students have to work to overcome each hurdle. Every piece they play requires them to concentrate and do the following things all at the same time- read the music, follow the conductor, press the correct keys or valves, blow the notes for the correct length and listen to the other players. It can go wrong but the sense of achievement, when they get it right, is what makes my job so special and my Grade 6 such great advocates of“ Band Camp”.
So, if you want to make your child smarter and be better prepared for adult life, then you really should encourage them to learn to play a musical instrument.
28 | Mar- Apr 2017 | | Class Time