More music with Troy Bashor and Nancy Caron

I popped back in to music class a couple times during week four to see what they were up to. Troy, who has been teaching a lot of music theory, was assisting students in transposing music into different keys and just talking with students about their concerns when I was visiting.

Lizzie, one of our fantastic accompanists, was trying her hand at guitar that day while the students were busy at work.



Skye reviews her work with Troy...

Ana checks her music with Lizzie to see if it translates correctly (translates? I'm not sure that's the right word, but you get my drift...)


Annie checks in, too...

Later in the week, I popped into Nancy's vocal performance class and it was a case of right-place-right time for me. Nancy had been working with the students on a personal assessment of where they were at regarding their fears and anxieties about vocal performance. She was working with them to understand their reactions and expectations of themselves and where any possible performance anxiety might crop up. I caught the tail end of that conversation, but it was really interesting.

Then, it was time for a little fun. This little "game" involved vocal performance, musical knowledge, and, well, frankly, a little bit o' horseplay. Here's how it works. The first person sings about anything they want...any music lyric or topic they could think of. Couldn't think of a lyric already written? They were encouraged to make up their own. For example...."Raindrops keep falling on my head" (yes, I'm dating myself...thank you Burt Bacharach)...could morph into "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens"... you get the picture? Now you can get your friends and family together and play this weekend!


Then, after a few bars, when another student got triggered with a new song in their head, they were to shove the first student out of the way (nothing like a good theatrical shove in musical theater, really!) and take center stage...


So let's see how this works...Rylee starts off...


Within four bars, Michael jumps in...

Another four bars and Cooper hops up...

Elinor gives Cooper the shove and belts one out...

Maddy with the handoff...

And back around to Cooper. Pop quiz...can you identify which student MAY have an idea for a new song in this photo? I'll give you three guesses...

Nyna takes a stab at it...

Riley...

Nicky...

Em...

Caleigh...

Watch out Caleigh, here comes Micaela...

Nicky on the move again...


Nicky takes the fall and Jacque picks up the baton...

This game was played with two teams, but team one (sitting) got so excited about the game they jumped out of their seats while team two was playing...mayhem ensued...

And such is the life in music class! We like to have a little work and a little play up there on the third floor (which now has air conditioning...woo hoo!!!), but everything has a purpose. This exercise not only tested the students' ability to pull lyrics out of their memory (or make them up), but also to work as a team and support one another. It was very cool to watch.

Thanks, Nancy and Troy. You guys rock (and roll!).