What can teachers learn from popular musicians? | UCL IOE

About this video

• Video Title: What can teachers learn from popular musicians? | UCL IOE
• Channel: UCL Institute of Education
• Speakers: Lucy Green, Flavia
• Duration: 00:12:34

Overview

This video explores how teachers can learn from the informal music learning practices of popular musicians and apply these methods to the school classroom. It discusses the key characteristics of popular musicians' learning, the shift in the teacher's role, and the benefits for student engagement and skill development.

Key takeaways

• Informal Learning Practices: Popular musicians often learn by choosing their own music, playing by ear, collaborating with friends, and integrating various musical skills (listening, composing, performing, improvising) in a personal and unstructured way.
• Adapting for the Classroom: These informal methods can be adapted for formal education. For example, students can choose their own music and instruments, and attempt to learn songs by ear, fostering greater engagement.
• Evolving Teacher Role: The teacher's role shifts from being the sole source of knowledge to a facilitator who observes, empathizes with student goals, and provides guidance and musical modeling when needed, rather than dictating the learning process.
• Student Autonomy and Motivation: Giving students more autonomy in their learning choices leads to increased motivation, better organization, and the discovery of musical abilities that might otherwise go unnoticed.
• Beyond the Score: Learning music doesn't solely rely on reading sheet music; playing by ear and improvisation are valuable skills that can be taught and learned, enriching the educational experience.