At the beginning of this week I went on this course with Douglas Coombes MBE. It was great to do some continuing professional development. The day was aimed at classroom teachers (mainly primary-focused), but I found it all relevant and helpful. I'm already using the different physical movements for different note-lengths (instead of only clapping, or words), and I'm looking forward to using the clapping composition exercise (will be a good warm-up at the Summer school). It felt positive to have my own priorities and beliefs (that everyone can appreciate, enjoy and communicate with rhythm and pitch) affirmed, and that these foundations can take time to build and are worth building. Yet also, how easy it can be to instantly create music with individuals and in groups. We did lots of practical exercises involving singing, clapping, making sounds with our voices, and percussion instruments. As an instrumental teacher it can be easy to get caught up in the limitations of a student's current technical ability - it is good to be reminded of the immediate music we can make with our own bodies/percussive effects on instruments - and how effectively this can be done in groups. I ended up buying lots of sheet music (again!) - including books of folk songs from around the world, Native American flute music, pictorial composition worksheets and more... by the time Jesse and I are pensioners we'll be living in a music library...
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