Score driven pedagogy

[quantum]

Given Western Art Music is primarily score based, have any of you explored teaching music where the score is not the focus?  What about for common topics one would cover in a piano lesson?  Have you taught a piece of music where the the score was not the be-all-and-end-all?  Or where there was no score to begin with? 

Have you taught music where the written piece is not a "score" in the Western sense, but that of another culture?

[lostinidlewonder]

Throughout my primary school years we would do a lot of musical exercises and training without us really realizing we where doing it. The teacher would do all sorts of games and sing-a-longs for us to join in. I remember she had hand puppets which taught us beats and rhythms and each one talked in a particular way which highlighted beat or rhythm. I remember Crotchets where (TA) and quavers would be called (ti ti ) minums (TAA A)  etc.

We would also play with percussion instruments such as two bits of sticks which would be struck together as required along with some recorded music or the teacher playing piano. We would also play with xylophones taking out particular keys so that it was very hard to hit the wrong notes. Singing was a major focus and always done without a score, the melody would be very simple and th e teacher would teach rhythm and melody through the words used.

The teacher would give us Aural training making us clap back things and sing things back to her. I think the first time we started to read music in school was when we where about 9 years old when we started to learn the recorder (something that all kids had to do).

[m19834]

Given Western Art Music is primarily score based, have any of you explored teaching music where the score is not the focus?

Yes .  

What about for common topics one would cover in a piano lesson?

 

Well, for something like chords, I have sometimes had students doing something that morphs into them doing a little bit of improvisation.  They learn a basic progression (I, IV, V, I) as well as how to spell the chords, keyboard topography, key signatures, melody and harmony, and how the chords and scales fit together (etc.).  

Have you taught a piece of music where the the score was not the be-all-and-end-all?  Or where there was no score to begin with?

 

Well, yes, but nothing very complex at all and mostly at the beginning stages with an individual who completely doesn't know how to read but I want to have them start playing right away.

Have you taught music where the written piece is not a "score" in the Western sense, but that of another culture?

Like what ?