School music teachers

[Stylus]

Hey guys, GET a load of this! Our music teachers at school are teaching us Mary Had A Little Lamb and the Chicken Dance on keyboard !!! Ack! One day while we were all playing the Chicken Dance I felt like showing off a bit. Every 2 persons were given a keyboard. I had to use the bass half of the keyboard. Grrr. The dude next to me wasn't even playing properly and kept mashing the keys on his side; which took up all the polyphony (all our keyboards were old 80's Yamahas)! So I pushed him outta the way and played the whole Chicken Dance WITH CHORDS (okay, it's basic, but I was BORED!) And then the teacher comes up to me and says "That's not the job you're supposed to be doing.", even though the dude next to me almost broke the darn keyboard !!!

[headquest]

Hey guys, GET a load of this! Our music teachers at school are teaching us Mary Had A Little Lamb and the Chicken Dance on keyboard !!! Ack! One day while we were all playing the Chicken Dance I felt like showing off a bit. Every 2 persons were given a keyboard. I had to use the bass half of the keyboard. Grrr. The dude next to me wasn't even playing properly and kept mashing the keys on his side; which took up all the polyphony (all our keyboards were old 80's Yamahas)! So I pushed him outta the way and played the whole Chicken Dance WITH CHORDS (okay, it's basic, but I was BORED!) And then the teacher comes up to me and says "That's not the job you're supposed to be doing.", even though the dude next to me almost broke the darn keyboard !!!

Teaching music to a class is tricky - some in the class will have no musical skill or interest while others - like you - will be seriously into it.

Good teachers plan activities with "differentiation" so that there is suitable learning for all in the class. Having said that, some musicians don;t make their skills known and teachers can be left unaware of how bored and dishillusioned their pupils are!

I suggest that you give your music teacher a copy of a recording you have made - and ask their advice. Then the teacher will have no excuse for not knowing what you are capable of, and you may be pleasantly surprise by the interest they take and help they can offer.

Having said that, also give a copy to your class tutor, who will no doubt go to the music teacher and sing your praises, which will also prompt the music teacher to take you seriously!

Failing that, or if your teacher can't help you because they lack relevant skills, look around for a different teacher and get your parents to write to the head of the school to voice their concern.

But whatever you do, don;t assume ALL music teachers are half-wits wo don't understand you. There are plenty of professionals who will do their level best to help you fulfil your goals and study music to the highest level.

Hope this advice helps.

[Steven West]

The COOLEST music teacher I had was back in grade 7, and her name was Nancy Steele. She lightly went over recorders and acoustic guitars and all that - but she was into Musique Concrete! She got us all doing tape loops of different things, and how to orchestrate a John Cage performance out of them all. AND she also brought in professional percussionists (just shy of Shelia E.) to teach us all about modern and foreign percussion and technique.

Is that not COOL, or what!

And here I am now starving, hooked on making weird sounds, and surrounded by too much gear... That lousy bitch ruined my life!

- Naw, she IS the coolest still!

[Big Karma]

My music teachers were Miss Toppliss - we had fun with that name and Mr Prior.

Both were bad tempered and disillusioned with their jobs.

Miss T would do alot of screaming and shouting and Mr Prior used to throw chalk at pupils and sang in the church choir - he looked and sounded like Brain Blessed -

Bloody terrifying

[soulata]

I had two music teachers in my primary school (long long ago), one goes by the name Kovachech and the other Fux (really).

The first one was a bad trumpet player (mostly funerals you know), the other funny old guy (invited me to play in his free jazz whatever band ).



and then there were others

[The Chase]

My music teachers were Miss Toppliss - we had fun with that name and Mr Prior.

Both were bad tempered and disillusioned with their jobs.

Miss T would do alot of screaming and shouting and Mr Prior used to throw chalk at pupils and sang in the church choir - he looked and sounded like Brain Blessed -

Bloody terrifying

When i saw that pic I literally said "Holy shitting gay!" out loud and my mom got pissed off.

[smp]

My wife teaches music at school. It's really hard to pitch a lesson at a level that will keep the whole class engaged. If you're bored because the level is way below you, privately take it up with the teacher. Any good teacher will work with you to find a way to keep you involved and continue to learn.

Maybe offer to help teach the class? Trying to teach is often a good way to learn more about what you know as you have to break down your own knowledge and understanding into bite-size chunks.

Might also give you an appreciation of how difficult your teacher's job can actually be

-s