What is Gig Based Learning? (2025 Update)

About this video

• Video Title: What is Gig Based Learning? (2025 Update)
• Channel: Gig Based Learning
• Speakers: Brad
• Duration: 00:08:45

Overview

This video explains the concept of Gig-Based Learning (GBL), a philosophically driven approach to music teaching and learning. GBL emphasizes a dialogic, critically reflective practice within a community that aims to foster individual answers to core questions in music education, such as what is most worth teaching and how to teach it effectively. The approach centers around "gigs" – opportunities to share music through any means by an agreed deadline, with the core ingredients being evidence of learning and a deadline.

Key takeaways

• Definition of Gig-Based Learning (GBL): GBL is music teaching and learning that occurs within the context of a "gig," defined as any opportunity to share music by an agreed deadline, with evidence of learning as the other key component.
• Philosophical Roots: GBL has origins in the speaker's teaching in the '90s and has been developed with co-founder Peter Orinstein since 2013. It is a dialogic, critically reflective practice in community.
• Core Questions Addressed: GBL seeks to foster individual answers to fundamental questions in music education: "What of all that could be taught is most worth teaching?" and "What of all that should be taught can I teach well and effectively?"
• "It's All About the Gig" Maxim: This central maxim guides GBL, emphasizing that the gig provides meaning and purpose to learning.
• Culture of GBL: GBL aims to foster a culture where "people like us do things like this," defining "us" as musicians who "do what musicians do, like musicians." This includes welcoming students into the community, traditions, and culture of show business.
• "Musicing" Concept: Drawing from Elliot and Small, "musicing" is defined as the activity of making music together, encompassing all roles (performers, listeners, composers, technical support, etc.) and phases (pre-production, post-production, artistic, technical).
• Focus on the Person: GBL prioritizes the care, growth, and positive transformation of students as individuals, emphasizing that students are more important than the gig itself.
• "In, About, and Through Music": This framework suggests that music education should involve active music-making ("in music"), learning about music ("about music"), and using music to practice being human ("through music").
• Community and Flourishing: GBL stresses the importance of community and ensuring that musicing benefits everyone involved, promoting human flourishing for both creators and audiences, now and in the future.
• Music Education as Life Education: The ultimate goal of GBL is to connect music education with life education, recognizing that music is life and life is music.