How do you Use the TTM’s?
Found in: Teaching and Teacher Training
Whitney M., Iowa
How do you watch your videos?
* Do you watch the entire video in one sitting?
* Do you sit with the teachers notes and follow along w/each point?
* Do you take notes?
* How many times do you have to watch them?
As I delve further into reading rhythm and now newly into reading notes, I find that I am watching things over and over and they’re not always sticking. Part of it is because I’ve not taught the information, because that’s when things really start making sense. But I’m wondering if I’m not as efficient as I could be. Well, I know that, ha, but I’d like to change it. :o)
Beth S., Tennessee
I have never taken notes when watching the training videos. I felt that it would be contradictory for me to do so when prohibiting my students to, and I want to experience the learning process in the same way that they do. Also, as my background has been one of traditional, classical piano, with a strict attention to the page, I want to do as much as I can to reprogram my brain and become more right-brained. I, therefore, keep my personal training limited to watching and playing.
I use the teacher notes in the book as little as possible. It usually takes me twice of watching the video before I get it well enough to present. And, as I have my own children learning at home, I try to practise it on them before presenting it to the paying folks.
Kerry V., Australia
It does take time and repeating the video is a constant.
My question is: a few of you have in the past have said that you write notes. I have found that I don’t write anything, for one, I am getting it into me by playing and repeating. Also, if I am telling my students not to write up extra notes, then I respect that and do the same. Also, I find that too many notes and markings gets in my way. I do minimal, if any, writing on music. I go into the patterns, shapes, the triggers etc until I “get it”. Am I barking up the wrong tree here? Have I missed something about the training that you should be writing notes?
Laurie Richards, Nebraska
I watch the video with the teacher notes in front of me and take notes on those pages. If I plan to assign any portion to be learned from the video, I watch the SHM to make sure I cover any related concepts in class, and that I know exactly what they will be watching at home.
I’ve realized that just because I’ve taught Dreams a hundred times doesn’t mean I don’t need to review the teacher materials on it. It’s easy to get so comfortable with something that we start to leave out little details without realizing it. So I like to go back and review old songs now and then.
There are certain training materials that I personally need to watch/listen to more often. Some of the foundational coaching conversations are good to keep in the queue, and I find myself reviewing Reading Rhythm, Reading Notes, and TFMM more often. There’s a lot of information to absorb, and I have taught things in Reading Notes out of order before, because I needed to review the TTMs. I’m trying to stay more on top. When you get further into the program, there is SO MUCH good stuff, and it takes a while to figure out how to put it all together efficiently and in the most effective order. At least for me, anyway. It sure is a fun process!
Dixie C., Washington
I have, & continue to feel, the same as you. I don’t take notes for the same reason I tell my students not to take notes. I’m trying to strengthen my memory & internalize the concepts, etc. I find that after I’ve taught a song a few times, I no longer need to review the video. But I do review the manual on some songs the night before I teach them.