As we prepare for Solo and Ensemble Contest, I'm exploring ways to engage the students more in the learning process.
Last week, students evaluated their own performances using the Solo and Ensemble Adjudication Form. I've had them assign points and give comments on good things as well as things that they can improve on. If a student wants to work on breath support, I ask what exercises, images, etc. they already know that can help that. Then I remind them of one or more approaches we've already discussed and maybe give them a new concept if they are ready for it.
At their next lessons, students will again evaluate themselves and come up with solutions to problems, but this time, they will be evaluating based on an audio recording of them singing. At the following lesson, we will do video recording and have them evaluate that.
My job as a teacher is to impart new knowledge, but it is also to get students to understand and apply the knowledge they have already been given. As one of my teachers told me, the job of a good voice teacher is to make his or her job obsolete.
