#for the record the only instruments i have that we actually purchased was my clarinet and my end-blown wooden flute | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

nikkystyx · 7 years

Text

Music Blog #1

Alright! So here we go, this is my first blog and its intention is to spread knowledge and actually help people with information. Specifically, this one is for music teachers out there who are working with young students.

I have been playing rock, pop, R & B, metal, alternative, and myriad other styles of music on drums, guitar, bass, and keyboard since I starting playing an instrument–around 13 years. I continued my journey in performing music, decided to make dedicate my life to music and eventually became a music teacher; that is quite possible the most condensed version of how I became a teacher that there ever will be. Now, there are only three possible paths for a music teacher to follow–band, orchestra, or chorus–and since there’s no “rock path” I had to take the band route. This enabled me to learned all of the conventional band instruments (saxophone, flute, clarinet, bassoon, oboe, trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba) and has given me the tools to be a band teacher, which I have been for a few years.

The dust has settled, my first years of teaching have passed, and I’ve noticed some quirks in our little world music education that I would love to help patch up. Inevitably, many teachers will be faced with important decisions involving purchasing or recommending popular instruments such as guitars, keyboards, drums, and related equipment or software for some of the new movements in music education that we are seeing: modern band; informal music groups; songwriting; music technology, for example. So I am here to share some information to help teachers make these tough decisions, after all these are the instruments that I’ve held so dearly long before I started teaching music.

Alright, so let’s get into this. This idea to spread knowledge in this area is inspired by a recent trip to one of the well-known music store franchises in the US. I don’t feel the need to justify my business, but for what it’s worth its proximity was a convenience to me. It seems, though, that every-single-time I go in this shop someone will help me who doesn’t know much about music or instruments. In fact, the only thing they appear to have memorized are the stores protection plans and financing options.

Now, I’m a very reasonable guy and I’m very patient and I understand how retail works. But still, the customers who come in this store are very impressionable: young children looking for a way to perform music and express their creativity; adolescent teenagers looking for a musical gimmick to brighten their dimly lit reality; parents that may buy instruments for their kids as a present; and yes, even music teachers who may not have time to order something through their local music shop -_-

Either way, these customers are going to trust the employees of this store to recommend an instrument or device to them that will do exactly what needs to be down. Customers also may not know exactly what an instrument or device needs to do, which is where the employee should really be able to help. As an example, a student of mine went to purchase an audio interface earlier this year so she could record her self playing guitar and singing at the same time. I was so excited that she asked me about, and since she gave me her price range I recommended a few different interfaces for her; all she would need is one microphone input since she plays acoustic guitar while she sings, but two would be better so she could track them with individual microphones. Of course, her parents bought one for her from the same franchise that I mentioned before, and it was one that had no input for a microphone. The only input available was for a quarter inch jack, like for a guitar or electric keyboard. This still cost her parents a good chunk of change, and she couldn’t even use it!

Now, that’s all that I know about that story–I hope that they returned it and got one that had the correct type of input available–but this certainly can’t be the only ill-advised purchase that these service clerks have influenced. On the contrary, my experience with employees at local music stores are usually trained in the qualities and features instruments and equipment that they sell. Better yet, if they aren’t sure about something, they will help you find the answer!

I know that’s a long story to share but it’s important to know that cheap and convenient doesn’t usually last long with equipment. It’s a pricier approach, but if you want something that will make your art actually seem like art, you need to have the right tools. And I don’t want to just point out the problem, I want to be part of the solution as well: in my next entry I want to help by sharing my experiences with equipment, books, tools, accessories, etc. And just to be clear, everything that I will mention here I have personally used, gigged with, purchased, loved, and I completely vouch for.

Thank you for reading, stay tuned for an update with some of my recommended gear for common situations in school music programs.

#musicteacher #musicgear #shoplocal #musicandart #musiceducation

2 notes · View notes