New Addition

The marvelous truth of organization and the importance of this whole learning process is not just to learn. I already established that in my previous blogs but I would like to get deeper in depth. When I say that, I mean one step further as I am still trying to figure out the truer purpose of this project.

With this said, I would to introduce the new addition of my teachings: the Snare! Of course it is part of the drum kit but the snare has it's special characteristics and require less coordination than the kit. This will be the starting point of all my students. The snare is mostly practiced by marching and drum corps which is my dream to be in one.

So in other words, I want to broaden my teachings. It is not always about the kit. The main focus of my project is to encourage, discipline [in my last blog], and organize. The fact that they are playing the drum kit isn't really essential so from now on, it is about what the person wants to learn. It is also a form of Freedom given to all my students. Freedom!

Penalties: New Era

Nothing is more important than playing. NOT! The most important is to focus on more important things. When I talk about "things," i like to specify it as jobs, college applications, homework, etc. Lately, there has been a decline in student work as they are doing poorly in their main tasks and don't realize that what they, my students, are learning is a side "job." So, in order to combat this, I came up with the plan to not teach them. Ultimately, this will have consequences on their learning. So, this is not the best punishment. I will try to look for better ways, or if someone offers a better proposal.

This will also teach discipline. It is not all about learning to play. It is a privilege to. For one not to play, it is a nightmare. [At least to me.] Already, a few of my students walked up to me and "beg" me for lessons. "Are your grades better? Then no." It is not always a punishment for them but for me also. This is time spent on how to improve myself through them. So it is not always about them.

On the positive note, I don't have many students who are doing badly. Two of the five, are doing poorly but it is not bad. More than 50%. If it gets any worse, obviously, I will need to find a new set of students who are willing to be disciplined enough to know that this is a privilege.

In a School far, far away...

The 1st thing we have to analyze before starting this journey is how to start it and who is my audience. The people I would like to reach out are the older students. They are being fitted to go out into the world. I just want a shot at them to try to instill a certain value into them: "The point of my lessons is to not only show people how to play but to encourage them to explore other factors that are in the world. In other words, 'Go outside and do something!'" More on this could be said on my previous blog. The fact that older people have more of an attention span and discipline to learn is easier on me and the my student. The more controlled they are, the more controlled I am about not losing control. Confusing, right?

Now how do I start it? How many people can I help? Certainly, I can put up signs around campus that "Free Drum Lessons." Of course, this would scream out: "Need Any Help Learning an Instrument? Come look for me and I will show you how to play in 10 easy seconds." My malicious advertisement ploy to attract my victims. As for the ladder question, I can only teach no more that 5 students since my schedule is all booked.