This video highlights a music improvisation session I did in LeAnn Hanson's creative class at Illaroo Road School in Nowra, NSW. I spoke about music and improvised with 80 students, age 5 to 11. The students were amazingly responsive and well-behaved. That's what made it possible to interact and play at the piano with SO many students of such diverse ages over the course of just 55 minutes!
First, I asked the students if they listened to music - they all said "YES!!" Then, I asked them to describe what they felt when they listened to music. Even the five-year olds were clear and articulate about their experience - they said, "emotional," "happy," "excited," "depressed," and "it depends on the music I'm listening to." I told them that whatever their experience is, it comes from the place in them that's creative and alive.
I then began to improvise with each student in turn. I was surprised at how willing and excited they were to sit with me at the piano. It didn't seem to matter that few of them had actually studied piano before, and many had not played before at all. Each student came forth with their own unique music - and all the other children responded enthusiastically to seeing their classmates perform, and to playing for everyone themselves.
Towards the end of the class, we still had many children who hadn't yet played, so they lined up and one after the other jumped in for 15 seconds or so as the other students clapped and cheered to the fast, lively rhythm I was creating as the bass accompaniment. This was a truly extraordinary event! I look forward to continuing my connection to LeAnn - who is a marvelously inventive teacher - and without whom and the other teachers present - this probably not have been possible! With special thanks to Bronwyn Payne--a teacher and the daughter of our friends Jennie and Mark Cameron - for organizing this and connecting me to LeAnn and the Illaroo Road school.
...Several days later, I received these responses from some of the Year 5 class (10-11 year old)
I loved playing the piano in a duet with you yesterday, and even though I don't know or learn piano, I think that I learnt that every single person has got a different melody and a different way of learning in them. When I played with you, I felt my own self taking a different path, even though it was in a short amount of time. From Charlotte, 5H.
Thank you for coming to school yesterday and sharing your knowledge about music with us .I really enjoyed listening to the music and having my turn .it was fun and exciting. When it was my turn to play the piano I felt kinda embarrassed and at the same time amused !Overall it was a great experience and I really enjoyed myself .From Tara 5H
The experience with you was brilliant and extremely fantastic. I had the most calming day ever, it gave me a message in my head to play with my heart and to have fun. When it was my turn I felt scared because I thought that I would play this horrible piece but then I realised that it's not so scary after all. By the way, I forgot to tell you that the music we played was awesome. From Jessica 5H.
I had an amazing experience yesterday with you. I'm amazed at the way you play your hands as they just fly over the keys. It made me happy and emotional when I listened to the other student's music. The music I played was amazing. I think I've finally found my place in the big world of music. Liam 5H
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Jessica Roemischer - "Flying Free: Music without Limits"by JessicaRoemischer4,065 views
cool stuff Im a ex st of irps
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