A memorable learning experience that occurred from childhood was joining the orchestra in 4th grade and learning how to play hundreds of notes on a violin at a young age with my classmates. The learning that occurred during that time was trying to hold a instrument and a bow, playing the music from the sheet music and trying to use different fingers for each note on the strings. It was at the time, all about memorization and the ability to tell that with this finger on the string, this note goes with it. It all had to do with finger placement and the clear sound it made with the bow and using our finger to pluck the note as well.
What I can reflect on this is, how it takes time and practice to hear the correct sound of the note and being able to correspond with your class, making sure that is the sound it needs to be played. It was a learning experience for me because it eventually took me a while to recognize the sounds and how the tempo goes with the song. I would say my orchestra teachers supported my learning with helping me how to hear the sound of the note being played by having her play the note and having me play it after her. Doing that, helped me to remember the notes by memory and practicing the songs over and over with the class and before a concert. My teachers have supported my learning of how I am able to play the notes correctly of cite reading the song and then play it. It helped me with memorizing the notes and playing them without having to look at my finger placement on the strings.
Connections between my learning experience of learning how to play a musical instrument with the help of my teachers and how the term pedagogy according to Diane Kashin and Cindy Green, that “children are in a better position for learning when they feel a sense of belonging and well-being and will be willing to engage and express themselves” (Kashin and Green, 2018, para 4). This connects with my learning experience because I felt that I belonged playing in the orchestra, playing notes and discovering how it was a learning experience of playing a musical instrument that I was learning at a young age. Playing in the orchestra made me want to continue on playing eventually into high school because I enjoyed learning more notes that were a little challenging and how to play two notes on one string with using memorization and remembering important things. The class turned into something that was fun, engaging and made us feel confident to express of how we feel playing with the class and a whole audience.
References
Kashin and Green (2018). Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education: The Art of Teaching and Learning, para 4.
It sounds like you had a great experience with orchestra at a young age! If you had not have had such a positive learning experience with your teacher do you think you would have continued to learn instruments? How an adult makes a child think/feel about something when it is first introduced to them can have a very long lasting impact on that child’s interests.
I connected greatly with this learning opportunity. I also played an instrument from a young age, and being able to learn this instrument greatly shaped the person that I am today. I too was able to find a sense of belonging and new found confidence when picking up the instrument and learning how to play. It is such a great way to express oneself and learn from teachers/individuals who may also be very passionate about the instrument. Great story and I love the connections I was able to make in my own musical journey as a child as well!
Hi Haley,
Learning something as rigorous as a new instrument at an early age can be very stressful. With that being said, I am happy you had teachers that were supportive of you and your learning. It is nice when you can reflect on positive learning experiences!
Music is such an important part of a child’s life. I’m glad that you had a great experience in orchestra and that you had such supporting teachers.