I recently became aware of a growing movement called "Recreational Music Making," or RMM for short. The idea behind this movement is that making music is something everyone can enjoy and instead of pressuring students to perform increasingly difficult pieces the teacher's job is to create a supportive and fun learning environment. Instead of traditional private lessons, most recreational music making students participate in classes. This might seem counter-intuitive, as private lessons allow for more focused interactions between the teacher and the student, but a group lesson has the advantage of peer support. Students feel like they are a part of something, and music lessons become a time for socializing and enjoyment instead of performance and pressure.
The idea of recreational music making intrigues me because I have definitely pursued some non-traditional paths in my own studies and with my own students. Traditional music methods are judged more on their ability to teach skills (for example, playing in all keys) than on student enjoyment. In other words, while music publishers recognize the need for good content they are constrained by a rigid framework that emphasizes increasing virtuosity. While the path of classical study and virtuosity is traveled by many, there are others whose needs simply aren't being met by more traditional approaches. I have taught several students whose interests or abilities do not fit into traditional molds, and I've developed more customized programs for these students to address their needs. These programs involve the use of chords, the inclusion of more popular music and improvisation. Instead of "one size fits all" piano lessons, I like the idea of giving students more options. The idea of playing a musical instrument is one that many people dream about but few successfully pursue. Recreational Music Making, with its focus on enjoyment rather than achievement, has the potential to attract students who might not otherwise learn to play, or for whom traditional music lessons were a less-than-satisfying experience.
For those looking to pursue recreational music making as students or teachers, Brenda Dillon offers several recreational music making books:
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Piano Fun for Adult Beginners
(Recreational Music Making for Private or Group Instruction). For Piano/Keyboard. Educational Piano Library. Softcover with CD. 72 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.296807).
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