How to Teach Guitar Using YouTube.com Vignettes
Facilitate Musical Instruction via Online Video Resources
Feb 27, 2009
A teaching style that takes advantage of online resources such as YouTube.com and TeachWombat.com is especially suitable if music classes consist of students from many cultures, a diverse range of ages, or if the teacher wishes to offer tuition covering a range of musical styles. One approach to this type of classroom management is explained in the article How to Plan Diversely Structured Music Classes
Many music teachers teach in a space where they have access to a computer lab or the students have their own laptops. For others, there is a possibility of downloading videos to multi media MP3 players. In this scenario, it is possible to arrange the instructional space so that students can learn styles of guitar such as Blues Grass, Hard Rock Christian Revival, Classical or Spanish in an environment where learning from YouTube.com vignettes makes individual, self directed and peer facilitated small group learning circles possible.
Learning Guitar From Online Resources
On YouTube.com, videos can be located to suit all learning levels. ViewDo: How To Play Beginner Guitar Chords is a very simple beginners guitar lesson. The guitarist models how to form basic chords.
Teachers who want their students to become independent, self directed learners would ask the students to locate and download the free chord charts made available from TeachWombat.com. By doing, this teachers have encouraged the students to think about and take advantage of what resources may be available free of charge on the internet. Once located, these solid, free resources will guide beginners as they easily follow, copy and memorise chord structures. More advanced students can go on to experience vignettes pitched to higher levels of attainment without needing to wait for the class.
Benefits of Online Resources in the Music Classroom
- Not only can the student be guided in choice of a vignette that demonstrates music at an appropriate pace for them to copy, they can also stop/pause the screen so that they can take their time working out the formations.
- Once they are familiar with the style of learning, and as they progress, students will be able to stop and rewind the vignette. This means that they can view it repeatedly. Students can view the instruction many times, without annoying others, until they have a very solid grasp of techniques and formations. This means that no student need be left behind as others proceed. Each member of the class can learn at his or her own rate.
- Students can be divided according to ability level, as well as located into a group that is learning about a musical style selected to suite their taste. This flexibility when allocating group work is especially advantageous when teachers have students from many cultures, and or, from a variety of religious faiths, or if English is a second language.
Advantages of Small Group Work in Music Class
The ability to split classes into small groups who are self directed and learning at their own pace should allow the students to feel comfortable. The security of the situation should mean that students are more likely to take risks when trying out new musical ideas.
Whilst students or the teacher might choose leaders for the student groups, it is also possible that natural leaders might evolve. Different students might be more likely to feel comfortable when leading particular types of tasks. The appropriate leader/facilitator might not be the student who knows the most about guitar playing. Students who lead some tasks might be the most patient person, or the one who can explain musical concepts lucidly. It might be that students take turns in leading the group; leading from their strength when appropriate
Online resources make teaching music more flexible, more fun for students and easier for the teacher to pace. The availability of a wide range of music related resources online means that students can become self directed independent learners. Students will experience a more diverse range of styles as they witness the styles others have been learning. This might help them broaden their understanding of musical genre and to broaden their artistic tastes.
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