The new generation seems to be obsessed with fun. If it is not fun, they look at their phone. I’ve seen teenagers and young adult look at a circus act with mild interest only to go back to their portable screen after 10 seconds. That’s the way now. Or so it seems.
So, as teachers, we are all of the sudden obsolete. What we know is boring, what we say is boring, what we show is boring.
And that’s that, right?
We have to compete with social media and video games. And it is impossible. Or so the saying goes.
So? So, our young population will study to get a job, no doubt, some of them are excellent in school, but any extra curricular activities, besides sport, will be considered a chore.
And with that, try to be a music teacher.
Yes, but!
But music is fun. Music is a blast. At least I think it is. Now, all I have to do is keep my student motivated for the craft. That shouldn’t be too hard. If they have an ounce of interest to start with, I’ll make it my job to make it engaging.
That’s exactly how I keep a strong roster of young student in my schedule. I teach them the fun in music. Oh, don’t make a mistake, the fun is the same as the work in music, but I don’t have to tell them that. They love a challenge, they sink their teeth into a difficult exercise, they relish at the thought of a good sweat, a complicated concept. Why? Because they are humans, simply. All humans love to be challenged. Video games are based on that notion. The ones building those games make sure they carefully teach the cogs of the games progressively. But, let me tell you, if the games were easy, they will be no players.
So, t
he only question a modern music teacher should have in mind is this: Where is the fun for my students in what I teach? Once you start asking yourself that, you’re on the right track.