Secondary VP’s Message Continued
build fundamental skills. Yet it is so critical to find time for sight reading, listening, and theory exercises to build versatile and competent musicians.
Many of the new styles discussed in this article utilize sophisticated elements of groove, rhythm, and harmony that can be excellent mediums to discuss in our classroom, in part because our students enjoy listening to this music! In your (hopefully) daily listening, play something by Postmodern Jukebox and ask your students to identify the groove, or analyze the form, or talk about the density of the harmony. Or perhaps give all your students the bass part to the funk tune your jazz band is playing and read the rhythm together. The possibilities are endless, but the payoff is immense, as suddenly you are using music your students know and enjoy as the basis for skill building. Additionally, you are relating it to other music they may listen to, further opening their ears to apply their musicianship is new ways.
Of course, everything we are discussing hinges on one very crucial element – we, as educators, must familiarize ourselves with contemporary music and styles. And we must keep up as these styles continue to evolve and change! Not only do we need to listen to it, but we must be able to analyze it, discuss the elements of the style, and teach those elements. This can be uncomfortable at times. If you are a vocal director who is unfamiliar with extended harmony or various drum grooves, for example, jumping in can be daunting. Forcing yourself to take the plunge, however, and finding resources to help you (whether colleagues or published resources), I think you will find the task less daunting than you may think. And likely fun and exciting.
With the changes in the music industry, the sheer breadth of music at our fingertips is incredibly immense. Perhaps you aren’t sure where to start. Well, here is a short list of just a few artists that I find my students listening to, or groups that I have found they enjoy listening to, discussing, and analyzing. • Moonchild •
Jacob Collier
• Post Modern Jukebox • Vulfpeck • Shrek is Love • Laura Mvula • Snarky Puppy • Becca Stevens • Dirty Loops •
• Home Free •
Pentatonix DCappella
Brennan Baglio is the Music Department Coordinator and Director of Choirs at Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming, where he directs the Studio Singers, Collegiate Chorale, and teaches second year music theory and aural skills classes. Brennan is a native of the Seattle area and previously taught choir, piano, voice, and music technology courses at Bellevue College. Brennan was the recipient of the 2018 Wyoming Jazz Educator of the Year award. Brennan is the baritone and tour manager in the professional vocal jazz septet Groove For Thought. He has had the opportunity to perform on NBC’s “The Sing-Off,” open for Jay Leno, and perform throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.
A NAfME MEMBERSHIP KICK-START YOUR CAREER WITH
Congratulations! NAfME Collegiate members are eligible to receive up to a 50% discount on dues when you become a full active member. This offer is only valid for one year after you graduate. Act now.
Deadline: Offer extends from June 30 of your graduation year until June 30 of the following year.
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Fall 2018 |
www.wyomea.org
Collegiate
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