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Teachers, Are You Helping or Hurting?

Marina McLerran

When working with students, it is quick to provide answers to students. About focusing on error-
easy for teachers to feel accomplished Although the lecture might be identification in the classroom,
because they reached the end of progressing at a fast pace, it is the Professor Duke believes that it is
their lesson plan for the day. This responsibility of the director to ensure imperative to the learning process
achievement by itself, however, means that students are mentally engaged “even though doing so requires
nothing unless the students remember and are therefore able to commit more time;” it is the responsibility
the lesson. In order to commit a new the material to memory; learning of the educator to be patient and
concept to memory, children must cannot be a passive activity. Dr. Duke encouraging, not to give the answers.
make a conscious effort to improve states that “energy is required [to More helpful to students, is the ability
and be provided with opportunities learn] because memory consolidation to name their own deficiency and
to fail. involves changes to the physical develop a plan of action to remedy
How Lasting Memories Are structure of the brain.” the issue. For example, are music
Made Making a Conscious Effort to students aware of their intonation?
In a recent study by the Baycrest Improve When a mistake is realized, do the
students immediately ask for help or
Rotman Research Institute in Toronto, Kayt Sukel from The DANA
attempt a solution (or a few) on their
researchers determined that subjects Foundation states that students “must
own first? The ability (and courage)
of all ages were better able to retain be conscious of [their] mistakes
to analyze a situation and develop a
information “by making near-miss to reap the benefits of improved
plan of action is not only a desirable
mistakes” (Griffiths). It is necessary performance.” She references a study
trait in students, but also in (future)
for the brain to first be challenged done by Hans Schroder of Michigan
employees.
in order to create new connections State University in 2012 that explored
and lasting memories. To encourage the amount of brain activity required Building Confidence
this type of learning, educators might for the completion of a simple task Sarah Neish from Psychologies,
allow more time for students to find initially and then again when the asserts that parents and educators
the proper fingering for a note or give instructions were reversed. The results most often “stop children from
multiple chances to answer questions; showed that individuals under too making mistakes to save them
teach them how to find the solution. much stress could not successfully feeling distressed,” but that this
Simply giving students the answers complete the task; there must be a act denies them the opportunity to
is an inefficient method of educating balance between the amount of energy grow emotionally. Neish suggests
that results in apathetic students with that is used to identify the mistake that the “natural consequences”
poor critical thinking abilities. and the energy required to continue of said mistakes will leave enough
Dr. Robert Duke of the University towards the goal of the activity. In of an impact without the need for
of Texas, in his recent publication in the classroom, therefore, educators additional explanation. An educator
the Music Educators Journal, observes should strive to create an environment who employs this philosophy might
that directors “at times provide more where errors are an acceptable part allow a student to perform poorly at a
assistance than is actually required of the learning process and not a solo contest in order to make the point
and, in so doing, inadvertently limit cause for panic. Directors can facilitate that practice is necessary for success.
learners’ development over the long this attitude by acknowledging their Neish also advises that children who
term.” Educators who focus too own mistakes and by responding to are made to feel ashamed of errors
intently on using their time efficiently, struggling students with the creed “we will eventually cease all efforts to
Professor Duke warns, may be too can mess up but we cannot quit.” improve; educators must find the

Bandmasters Review • December 2017 19 Texas Bandmasters Association