Using Foundation Duets with student with prior experience
Found in: Supplemental Programs
Tanya M., California
Hi all,
I just watched the promo video for Foundation Duets & Variations. One of the suggestions mentioned was to use the Foundation Duets & Variations with a student who has prior experience to help give them some interest and challenge, especially when the other members of their group have not had prior experience. I have a potential new group forming – father and two teenage sons – with just that scenario: the father can read music because he played the accordion as a child, but the two sons have not had any formal lessons on any instrument. (They’ve been playing around with Synthesia.)
Anyway, I was wondering if someone could flesh out how to use Foundation Duets & Variations with just one member of a group. Would you take time during class to teach the student with prior experience the new parts or just assign them the audio tracks to listen to at home? Or do you teach everyone the new parts, but just expect the student with prior experience to actually work on it?
Elizabeth G., Australia
Hi Tanya,
I have had teachers write to me saying that they have used the Duet programs with exactly this scenario. They have allowed the more advance student to move through the variations at their own speed, but not taken time in the class to teach the variation. They have also noted that they insisted that the student be able to describe the playing based clues, so it keeps them focused on playing based skills instead of using their reading skills.
I would add that when the class comes back with the foundation piece, there is an opportunity for the additional part to be played at that time as part of playlist review.
Also, I have also found that parents, or siblings, who have some keyboard skills ,love playing along with the student at home! It’s a great way for family’s to gather to play music together. ( and a great way to add to your student concerts!)