[img]541|left|||no_popup[/img]Sometimes I get so involved in implementing an idea, I forget to keep looking at whether the idea itself makes sense.
This happened to me with the online theory classes I tried to start a few weeks back. My intention was great – to offer students the regular and steady opportunity to ask theory questions. I saw it potentially evolving into some kind of online talk show aka “Car Talk.”
Alas, I spent so much time planning the content and researching the best technical equipment to allow the students and me to interact live, I neglected to take a good look at the basic idea.
What was I really asking students to do?
Commit to getting up early on a Saturday morning, often their only morning to sleep in (assuming they don’t have a sporting event or other class), to discuss… theory. Even typing that is silly.
My whole intention was to make theory more palatable by offering information in a fun and accessible manner. But 8:30 a.m. is not palatable to most kids.
What was I thinking?
I learned my lesson quickly enough, and now I have changed course. Instead of these early morning live classes, I am making a series of training videos that people can watch, whether they stay up until or wake up at 5 a.m.
Watch the first few videos on the music theory teacher youtube channel:
<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/1_peYPL6920″ frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>
And if you have other ideas of videos, email me – at any hour of the day.
Ms. Dewberry, an accomplished cellist, completed her DMA in Chamber Music Performance from UCLA in December 2005. She received her MM in Cello Performance from UCLA in June 2002 and her B.M. in Cello Performance from Western Michigan University in April 1998. She also holds a B.A. in French with a minor in Women's Studies and Philosophy.
Her website is www.carterdewberry.com
She may be contacted at carter@carterdewberry.com
