THE CASE FOR MODERN

BAND
MUSIC FOR EVERYONE
HERE WE GO

What is modern band?

What’s in it for students?
The role of the teacher.
What does a class look like?
So, why modern band?

GIBSON 2023
WE SHOULD—WE MUST— PUT OUR MUSICAL,
EDUCATIONAL, FINANCIAL, DIPLOMATIC, AND
SOCIAL SKILLS AND UNDERSTANDINGS TO WORK TO
MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR MORE PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE THE JOYS AND
SATISFACTIONS OF MUSIC-MAKING AND,
THEREFORE, TO “MAKE A LIFE IN MUSIC” TO THE
EXTENT THEY DESIRE.
DAVID ELLIOTT
HTTPS://WWW.MUSICMATTERS2.COM/AUTHOR/DAVID/#:~:TEXT=WE%20SHOULD—WE%20MUST—%20PUT,TO%20THE%20EXTENT%20THEY%20DESIRE.
WHAT IS MODERN
BAND?
FOUNDATIONAL TENETS

• Individuals or groups of students creating or rehearsing music

• Student driven
• Constructivist
• Sound before sight
• Popular music based
• Not based on prior knowledge
• Musicing versus studying music
WHAT'S IN IT FOR
STUDENTS?

• There is a place for everyone in music making

• Ownership by active involvement in making music
that is meaningful to them

• Learn a process oriented approach to creativity and

skill development

• Learn that music is for everyone and not the talented

elite
THE ROLE OF THE
TEACHER

• Facilitator of non-formal learning

• Letting go
• Curation
• Leading through listening
• Questions, questions, questions
• Approximation, Scaffolding, and Arranging
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT TO SEE?
 IT DOESN’T LOOK A CERTAIN WAY

Depends on where students are in the musical process

Some behaviors you can expect to see:

1. A bit of chaos…with boundaries

2. Trial and error—Feedback not failure

3. Frustration

4. Success!
WHY MODERN BAND?

Keeping the goal, the goal—>Music for everyone

Culturally responsive teaching

Bridging the gap between music that is taught and

music that matters to students

Keeping the barriers low but the bar high

ALL IMAGES FROM
PUBLIC DOMAIN
PEXELS.COM