Bryan Powell, the director of programs for Amp Up New York City is paving the way for music teachers everywhere.
Berklee College of Music, in collaboration with Little Kids Rock, is bringing music education to a whole new level.
Little Kids Rock is a curriculum that teaches students the basic of popular music when it comes to performing on keyboard, drums, bass, guitar and vocals. The workshop at Millikin University was held on Monday for Millikin's music education course students and with Decatur music teachers.
For the Decatur school music teachers, it is a plus for their professional music career growth and development, cites Herald. Teachers like Tom Miller from the Johns Hill Magnet School attended the event. Miller has never thought about trying out drums. But during the workshop, he sees the opportunity for a different kind of instruction in his music class. He adds that he has mostly guitars in his classroom. Miller is excited to try out something new. When Bryan Powell asked him how the drum kit felt when Miller tried it - he thought it was awesome. And it was all because of a simple rock beat.
Another professional, Associate Professor Neal Smith from Milikin, leads rock band camps for children in Decatur. He loves the idea of the workshop and hopes that the music teachers who attended will start a modified music programs in their schools and spread the idea.
Powell says that teaching theory and technique is crucial. However, fun is also important in the process.
The workshop's goal is to teach modern music from band and pop music. Powell aims to provide instruction but not a lot. Just enough to restart music educators and those currently taking music education as a college course. Powell adds that it does not mean teachers are going to replace what they are doing. It just means they need to create a different approach to get kids interested in the classroom.
