At MusicLearningLive, jazz musicians Tom and Phil Bancroft demonstrated some of the resources and techniques they use in the ABC method of creative music making.
ABC is aimed at primary children, and can be taught by even non-specialist teachers using simple, structured exercises to introduce musical ideas and concepts.
Tom and Phil stress the need to encourage creativity and improvisation without putting students on the spot or giving them 'the fear'. Key to this is the idea of 'supported creativity', which they sum up as follows:
- Create a safe/fun dynamic
- Teach an understanding of form - use it to create phrases
- Restrict choice
- Split performer/creator roles
- Remove the technical challenge
- Repetition 'Rules'
- Organise small things into large things
- Repeat back results of creativity
- Avoid BOIP
Watch the video to find out what BOIP means and see the ABC method in action.
Go to www.applebananacarrot.com to find out more.