We've been teaching weekly group lessons for quite a while now. Honestly, I don't know if it's been 6 months or 2 years, but definitely a "while." Our underlying focus at group has been learning about chords, keys, and improvisation, so both Roy and I have learned a ton as we prepare each lesson and teach it. The last month, though, I had been running out of fresh ideas that would (somehow) challenge the more advanced and not leave the beginners in the dust. Slowly, a lightbulb has been dimming on in my brain. It all started about a month ago when...
Adriel was sick. It was Roy's work Sunday. (Okay, already the day was long.) When Roy got home, we decided that he would stay home with Adriel and I would go by myself to teach group. As a group we were preparing to play at a nursing home in 2 weeks, so we already had a set list of about 20 songs and just needed to polish our cohesion and presentation. I was not prepared to teach anything more than that. So, we played. When it came time to sing "Amazing Grace", I asked Mr. Baird for some help (I can't sing and play. Roy usually leads at this point.) He took a moment to remind us who we're singing about and who we sing for. He asked us all to forget that we have untrained and (for the most part) untalented voices. He lightheartedly asked all the kids to sing out, because he was going to sing out and needed them to at least be as loud as him. And so, they did! (Usually getting the kids to sing is worse than pulling teeth.)
On the way home that night, I started thinking "that was a really great group time. Even though we didn't really LEARN anything, it was still encouraging and enriching."
The next week, Roy led. Again, we were mostly just polishing up for playing at the nursing home, so he opted to not introduce anything new. After we went through our list, he dismissed any who were through playing (gulp) and those of us who wanted to keep on gathered in and he led us in some Bible verse songs he's been working on. As our enthusiasm and volume grew the kids who had been so happy to be dismissed early started paying attention, gathering in, singing, going back to rough-housing for a while, then singing again. It was very relaxed; there was no pressure on them to do anything; we were simply providing an environment that they were welcome to join if and when they wanted.
Again, as we were driving home I told Roy how enjoyable it had been for me. I was still thinking "we didn't really learn anything, but it was good nonetheless." I'm pretty dim at seeing possibilities when I have an expectation already firmly rooted. As we were talking about it, we both agreed that the concentration and enthusiasm of the younger ones was at least 10 times greater when they sensed that we were "just" playing music; we weren't trying to make sure they "got" something new. And the older ones so much enjoyed having a time to use what they know. When they had a problem, they could ask or look around.
The next week, the Sunday night of my marathon, I totally kicked back during group. I had my legs up and Roy just led random song after song from our repertoire. As I was taking the back seat I had a chance to observe even more, and was really struck with the fact that for us, THIS is our group. It's what works for this pair of teachers and our group of kids. Children really DO learn best by example. And not a phony example that says "here is what YOU should do, so I'm going to show you how it should be done so that you can follow" but a true "this is what I believe, this is what I'M going to do."
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