EX. Just because the curriculum states that the course will teach the Major Scale and the Minor Scale, in all 12 keys, doesn't mean that the kids will learn that. The course will teach WWHWWWH for Major Scales. Some students may see that and that is it. They need no more instruction. Just knowing the pattern of the notes will get them through the entire 12 scales.
Unfortunately, many students will need more to learn that. They will need to be reminded that when there is an absence of black keys (on the piano), they must still follow the W(whole) and H(half) plan, and understand that 2 white keys by each other is still a half step.
As they look at the piano keyboard, and use the C as the starting note, they can see, quickly, there are no black keys involved, using the WWHWWWH pattern. BUT, when one begins on the note D, there will now be 2 black keys involved, the F# and the C#. BUT, one begins on the note E, now there will be 4 black keys involved, the F#, C#, G# and the D#. Now, to be a bit confusing, if one begins on the note F, now, there will be only 1 black key and it will be the Bb.
A student would have to have the understanding of Sharps (#) and Flats (b) prior to learning the Major Scale pattern. Students who learn visually may need to see how to figure the pattern, due to the strength of seeing the Whole and Half Steps. Students who learn aurally, might need the teacher talking through how to find the notes in the pattern, then play the notes, knowing it is wrong, instantly due to the sound of the wrong note would make, and the correct sound the correct note would make. A student who is a strong Kinesthetic person, would do better touching a keyboard, putting small blocks on the notes that would be used. That, if I am understanding it correctly, is LMS.
Hall, B. LMS and LCMS Demystified (2010), LMS and LCMS Dymistified, http://www.brandon-
hall.com/free_resources/lms_and_lcms.shtml. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
McGee, P., Carmean, C.. Jafari, A. Course Management Systems for Learning: Beyond Accidental
Pedegogy. Retrieved June 10, 2010. A book with limited view on line, pps. 209-214.
Karen:
ReplyDeleteGreat understanding of the various needs of students when understanding music theory. Here is my take on the LMS vs. LCMS understanding.
Staying in the major scale mode…
An LMS is used by the individual students to gain the knowledge they need. One component of the LMS would be to understand what a whole step is using a physical, virtual, or paper copy of a piano keyboard. A second component would be to understand what a half step is using the same delivery methods. An LMS would be used by a conservatory or university to 1) assess a student’s knowledge of a major scale, and 2) deliver the instruction/material that a student needs.
An LCMS would be used by maybe the MENC (The National Association of Music Educators). The MENC’s LCMS would have theory components that would be used across disciplines. The Whole step or Half step component would be refined to insure that the same components could be used in classical, jazz, pop, rock, etc. lessons. The whole step component wouldn’t have to be redone for each and every individual genre. Since an entire nation of educators would use the LCMS of MENC (ideally), components would be standardized for a plethora of users. It is definitely a large task to create unbiased components that can be used in such a broad manner. But your major scale example is something that could readily be handled.
MIchael McCurdy
Your discernment between learning management and content management is really key. Nicely simply put. And your analogy to the letter soup we're trying to untangle with the scale soup for beginning music theory is apropos.
ReplyDeleteIf only the education/corporate/military worlds could standardize their acronyms as well as Guido d'Arezzio!
I like the way the you digested the information between the differences. Your ability to tell that the LMS is trainings and LCMS is the content of the training helps with all of the confusion around these acronyms. Another very good point was your using the scale of WWHWWWH and some needing more training for the major scale. I have had music and this is my first time seeing this. I had to read further to see that the W was for whole note and the H was for half note. It is true, you learn something every day.
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