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Teachers, Are You Helping or Hurting?

balance between positive and negative feedback. Dr. Sources
Evelyn Crone, professor of neurocognitive developmental Duke, R. A. (2012). Their own best teachers: How
psychology at Leiden University, encourages parents and we help and hinder the development of learners’
teachers to be aware of the developmental characteristics independence. Music Educators Journal, 99(2), 36-41.
of the age group in question; children younger than twelve Web. 4 September, 2017. https://cml.music.utexas.edu/
will be impervious to negative feedback, while children assets/pdf/Duke2012.pdf
over twelve will tend to dwell on it. Educators should
“How the Brain Learns from Mistakes.” Sukel, Kayt. The
reassure students that mistakes will be made, especially in
DANA Foundation. New York, New York. 16 October,
live musical performances; it’s just part of being a person.
2012. Web. 4 September, 2017. http://dana.org/News/
Students who have been allowed to passively enter
Details.aspx?id=43246
the classroom will push back, at times with anger, when
directors refuse to provide answers immediately. Recently, “Brain Power Shortage.” Schroder, Hans. Michigan
I taught a middle school woodwind sectional over a State University. Springer. Springer International
particularly challenging pop tune and refused to count the Publishing AG. Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral
rhythms for the students. This of course, frustrated several Neuroscience. 16 July 2012. Web. 4 September,
of the musicians, and I’m sure, made me a less popular 2017. http://www.springer.com/about+springer/media/
band director. At the end of the rehearsal, though, I was springer+select?SGWID=0-11001-6-1383546-0
approached by one of the flute players who thanked me for
making them figure out their own music. She said that she “Boost your memory by making mistakes while learning
hates it when teachers give them the answers right away – but only if your guesses are near misses, scientists
because “it’s like spoiling the end of a movie.” Students claim.” Griffiths, Sarah. Daily Mail. 28 October, 2014.
might not enjoy the puzzle-solving process while they’re Web. 10 September, 2017. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
in it, but they will appreciate the ability to decipher their sciencetech/article-2811271/Boost-memory-making-
own music in the long run. This confidence in their own mistakes-learning-guesses-near-misses-scientists-claim.
abilities will also likely spill over into other aspects of the html#ixzz4sIXEASYf
child’s life; their approach to difficult homework, large “Let Your Child Make Mistakes.” Neish, Sarah.
presentations, and challenging social situations. Psychologies. KELSEY Media Ltd, Cudham Tithe Barn,
Berry’s Hill, Cudham, Kent TN16 3AG, England. 11
August 2011. Web. 10 September, 2017. https://www.
psychologies.co.uk/let-your-child-make-mistakes

Kleibeuker, S. W., Stevenson, C. E., van der Aar, L.,
Overgaauw, S., van Duijvenvoorde, A. C., & Crone, E.
Marina McLerran, originally from Austin, TX, is a graduate of the A. (2016, November 28). Training in the Adolescent
Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music. She is currently an Brain: An fMRI Training Study on Divergent
Assistant Band Director for Center ISD, clarinetist for the East Texas
Chamber Winds, and recently launched her own online publication, the Thinking. Developmental Psychology. Advance online
“McLerran Journal.” publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/dev0000239

Bandmasters Review • December 2017 20 Texas Bandmasters Association