Outside YouTube Tutorials
Found in: Claiming Territory, Online Learning, Other Methods
Rebecca M., Ireland
Hi guys,
I have an 11yr old student in ons of my groups who always tries to control the events!
I have to manage her alot, bring her back to the room.
She is on Foundation 1 and we have just got to Chester.
After todays class she told me she wanted to play me a song she learnEd which was the first part of Night Swimming by REM!
She had learned it on YouTube! I had spoken to her and another student last week about not doing that as it is reading based and we are doing a play based approach.
I don’t want to dampen her spirits, but am unsure how to handle this one. So today I explained again that it’s a very different reading based approach and she will need to separate thar from Simply Music.
However this may be contributing to her wanting to rush, and get more from me as she keeps wanting to rush ahead and says she finds it simple!
Advice please..
Thanks so much 🙏
Claire C., Pennsylvania
Does she keep her playlist going and come prepared for class? I think that is the most important factor. I’m teaching my grandson who is in level 4. Now that his piano skills have taken off he loves to learn video game songs from YouTube . He also helps his younger sister in level 3. I just leave him alone as long as he keeps his playlist and comes prepared.
Rebecca M., Ireland
Claire Yes she does. She does try to use her ear more than patterns and sentences – but I continue to show the importance of this and get her to play mid sentence, just the TP etc etc And she loves the piano which is the main thing! Thanks for the advice
Mark M., New York
Was it reading on YouTube or a keyboard-visual tutorial? Either way, it’s outside the SM Curriculum. Even if it involves reading, there are lots of situations where students have reading knowledge separate from SM lessons. They may have done traditional lessons previously. They may be studying it in music class at school. Etc., etc. I’d definitely be discouraging students from actively pursuing new reading knowledge if they don’t have some formal thing in their life outside of SM lessons where it is being studied. New reading knowledge is different from new pieces learned with old reading knowledge. There is no prohibition on students continuing to use reading knowledge they already have. As Claire says, if our own SM-based priorities are all being maintained, what students do outside of that is their business, not something we have to police.
Rebecca M., Ireland
Mark it was a keyboard visual. Totally get what you are saying. I’ll continue working through the levels with SM and hope she can separate the two!
Maureen K., California
If she seems bored with the pace, I would give her extra challenges, for example make up a new RH part for Night Storm, or write new lyrics for Chester. Or teacher her variations onthose songs, if you’re ready to do that.
Beyond that, I praise students who have learned extra piano outside of class and invite them to play it for the group. Kids’ brains are fast and flexible and curious. Most of YouTube is not reading-based anyway.
Kudos to you for sparking this girl’s interest in and love for music!
Rebecca M., Ireland
Maureen Thank you! I will absolutely get her to share, and use it as a huge positive!
Ruth P., North Carolina
I’m happy when students dive into other musical opportunities. I continue with the curriculum and often neat insights/connections come from exploration. Trying to put a damper on experiencing the wide and wonderful world of music feels a bit akin to banning books. 🧚
Rebecca M., Ireland
Ruth completely! I was struggling how to use this as a positive, not now. Thank you!
Original discussion started March 8, 2022