12.15.08
Memoirs of a Teacha’
[Espressivo]
Lately, I am often admonished that I take my students too seriously and I can only concur that there is so much truth in these concerns. Many sleepless nights have been spent worrying about them, and I honestly credit my few strands of silver hair to “my kids”.
As an ancillary result of previous contemplations about pursuing studies in Music Therapy for special children, I used to classify my students into two groups; ADHD and Non-ADHD. (Hah! I even used to classify my friends in this manner. Sometimes, I still do. That’s why they’re special to me! Vinz, amishu! Hahaha *teasing grin* ) However, I learned soon enough that those who were identified as non-ADHD had their own behavioral maladies, some even worse than ADHD, and that I could not really categorize them in such a way despite the startling number of children with neurobehavioral problems. In fact, one cannot really classify children. They are particularly special and unique with their different fortes and weaknesses, and if a teacher is really dedicated enough to see an improvement in the student’s musicianship and character, no one can possibly adhere to a single approach. Because of this, I strongly believe that no one is impossible to teach.
Yet, there is a problem. Owing to this belief influenced by the Suzuki method that any child can play music and any child can be taught, parents and audiences alike expect that I can also teach the children musical expression.
Assuming that all students in a certain group have been taught technical things equally, this is where a teacher cannot avoid a more “advanced” classification between the musical and not-so-musical children. I have observed that the most musical students are those who have had exciting or extraordinary (happy or sad) experiences in their young lives, and this cannot be taught, because musical expression is not mere feelings, rather, it is entirely about what one has been through and the amount of these experiences that a person may consciously or subconsciously incorporate in the music.
In my humble opinion, a teacher can only encourage a student to haul these experiences from within, but attempting to teach musical expression would be futile. It would only produce an artificial expression that might severely reflect a false passion.
Musical expression is the entire cosmos between one note and another, musical expression is one’s own heartbeat, one’s own breath, one’s own sorrows and joys embodied in the music. It is one’s love story. These cannot be duplicated, these cannot be taught. Musical expression can only be lived.
¤ ¤ ¤
My reply to a mother who complained of her daughter’s lack of musical expression; “Wait ‘til she gets her heart broken.”
Sad but true.
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peesaychu said,
December 15, 2008 at 8:45 pm
…i am blessed to have a teacher like you, Mee! …you’ve made footprints in my life… =)
Philippians 1:3
Miracle ♪♫ said,
December 15, 2008 at 8:53 pm
I thank God whenever I remember you too, Bings. I only wish we had more time on the piano together. We had the ideal relationship between student and teacher - we were, still are, friends. =)
P.S. You were definitely among the non-ADHD and without any maladies. haha =P
elaine said,
December 15, 2008 at 10:09 pm
i agree with you. one can’t teach musical expression. it is something that needs to be experienced. but i also believe that one can “mimic” or portray “second hand” emotions when he is exposed to different mediums of art. like films for example… of course, it is not as vivid as the first hand experiences.
Miracle ♪♫ said,
December 15, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Thanks, Elaine. Indeed. Inspiration is what we should absorb from the exterior, but expression really has to come from the interior if genuineness is desired. =)
mika said,
December 16, 2008 at 8:36 am
waah, this got me. i was just telling one of the piano teachers in school that i often don’t feel anything when i play, and that the mannerisms in the music are there just for ‘effect’. (shame on me!) the teacher replied: “nahahalata nga”. wahaha! to be honest, it is a huge struggle for me to be genuinely expressive. hopefully i’ll mature in time, when i go through more experiences. :)
Miracle ♪♫ said,
December 16, 2008 at 9:52 am
I had the same problem when I was younger, Mika… but all of a sudden, I got my heart broken, and Voila! Everything came naturally. Now you guys know why I speak of heartache so highly. haha =) On the other hand, I’m not claiming to know all about musical expression, but this is how I’ve come to attain what I lacked before.
Mika, shall I find someone to break your heart? =P
sopraninigabi said,
December 17, 2008 at 9:12 am
Sinong piano teacher yan, Mika?
Haha I’ve been told by my voice teachers ever since I was a freshman to go out and “get a boyfriend,” so I can be more passionate in my singing.
There ARE some things that can’t be taught.
Miracle ♪♫ said,
December 17, 2008 at 10:21 am
…and some things can’t be imposed. Hay… if only other people would understand that and stop expecting too much, Gabi. I don’t like being blamed for children’s “lifelessness” and I especially don’t like the students being nagged about it. Everything and everyone has to go through a process of “seasoning” one way or another.
peesaychu said,
December 18, 2008 at 10:26 am
hehehehe.. Thanks Mee! =D Basin di ra kau halata ang pgka mild adult ADHD! hahha.. Joke ;)
Miracle ♪♫ said,
December 18, 2008 at 10:54 am
No signs of that whatsoever, Bings. OC-ness lang. haha =P
Vinz said,
December 19, 2008 at 4:19 am
Hmmmmm… ouch… huh? since you’re that Great in expression, how much experience in heartache have you had? Well, am I in need of more heart breaking then to improve my musical expression? I was the kiatan student of The Great Mira’s Momy before… (ADHD wasn’t that popular then…or maybe I was just oblivious of the term)… hehehh! missing you guys….. :~(
Miracle ♪♫ said,
December 19, 2008 at 7:56 am
BenBen!
Regarding the first question; you’ve been my bestfriend for so long. Need you ask? hihi =P
Actually, Mama said you were one of her most musical students. Maybe it wasn’t heartache that helped you achieve that but your encounter with other powerful emotions. (e.g. near-death experiences with that Superstar, etc. haha)
Kiatan = ADHD. It’s more or less the same thing. ehehehe KIDDING! =P
We.miss.you.too.so.much.
pags rockefeller said,
December 21, 2008 at 5:30 pm
what you said is a great lesson, that teachers should not be teaching on the level where only methodology matters. teaching is not just art and science combined but giving life to what is already at hand. the most important thing to deal with is to know your student very well for only then will you know their strength and weaknesses. these are oftentimes left unattended by most mentors but i’m glad you are keen enough to notice this.
i really appreciate your endeavor mir and surely you have proven to be one of the best teachers. keep up the good work and may you inspire others to do the same thing. i’m proud of you. :)
Miracle ♪♫ said,
December 21, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Yes, Pags. It takes so much heart and soul to become a good teacher and God knows I’m still striving to be a “good” teacher. Being one of the best would be like conquering the world. haha =)
Thank you so much for being supportive. =)
Global Voices Online » Philippines: Music Teacher’s Memoirs said,
December 25, 2008 at 7:52 am
[...] young music teacher from the southern Philippines shares her experience on teaching musical expression to children. Posted by Karlo Mongaya Print version [...]
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