Skills

Well, it's the end of the academic year and the students have all gone home.

So I'm planning what I am going to teach. This should be interesting to any new students on the course as this is the stuff you are going to be doing for the next few years.

What I hope to teach is Musical Skill.

So before I start planning this I need to define musical skill so I have something to work on.

So here is my definition of musical skill:

My definition of skill (edited 21st July)

Skill can be seen as the ability to execute methods used to create good music.
The course should develop these skills but also constantly question the meaning of ‘good’ in a musical context. Although the concept of good is somewhat subjective, I argue that it isn’t entirely subjective.

This scheme is designed to develop the following skills:

1) Sensory-motor skills on the student's chosen instrument.

2) Communicate with other musicians through different types of music notation.

3) Improvise and Compose (these two being related)

4) Have a knowledge of the biological, cultural and biographical context of music and use
this knowledge when making music

5) An understanding of music history that can be used as a positive reference in composing and performing

6) An ability to articulate what makes a piece of music good.

As you can see I have called it 'my' definition as I'm sure this is up for grabs. I'm sure other people (like say, the people who fund music courses) may have a different idea.

So I have also tried to get some other opinions too....

Music Radar Forum

Sputnick Music Forum

Mike Dolbear Drum Forum

The Frost* Forum

I hope this provides a punters view but there are some interesting views from teachers too.

From this I am now about to rewrite my scheme of work (a scheme is what I will actually teach lesson by lesson and how I will fulfil the criteria of the course)

Once that is done I'm preparing for my appearance with Martin Ranscombe at The Bath Rhythm Course
Our masterclass is entitled 'The things you really need to know' and we hope to put across some practical information on how you sit, set up, get a good sound and sound good.
I want to discuss some approaches to improvising, but actual practical things rather than esoteric ideas about 'playing from the heart'.
I think Martin and myself make a good team. We have done two clinics together and as Humphrey Bogart once said, 'This could be the the beginning of a beautiful friendship...'