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Kapila Kane
Ha`aha`a
USA
1051 Posts |
 Posted - 09/14/2011 : 06:27:06 AM
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My desire is to share, edify, show, and do some slack key playing and introductory teaching, in a small group setting-- building awareness and participation in Hawaiian Slack Key guitar, here in our Denver metro area.
I want to keep the costs down-- materials, space fee etc.
(if no one is allergic to cats, my house is cheap!)...but a local music store would be great, if willing to host a few weeks, and they can be an outlet for slack key books and dvd's.
So that's for me to connect with, once I get my nerve up...or better not wait for nerve, just jump! Nerve comes later, for now, Spirit of Aloha will have to do.
In Denver metro area, we have 2-3 food acoustic stores, (and more) ...but all I would need is One to host and sell (say the Ozzie Kotani book I, or other dvd's and recommended, good basic materials).
WHAT MATERIALS OR PLAYING ACTIVITIES WOULD YOU USE?
Because of copyright or intellectual concerns, I'll have to use materials available for purchase (or free downloads) on the web, at a host store, or any freely available, general taropatch tabs that helps with basics, and gives newbies something to chew on and play.
So,
After a quick bit of history we would head to taropatch tuning, basic finger roll patterns, slack key scale, alternating bass, and as time allows in one or two startups, turnarounds.
I'd consider a materials purchase of "required" 101 text of Ozzie Kotani's book one if we go past a week or two, and interest is there.
(Now my 6 year old copy the cost was $22,85 plus S and H.
which is a little much if someone is just taking a quick look to see if they are interested)
I'll have to assess where to start, how much to tackle, and then see if a few weeks of playing some tabs or patterns becomes in demand, then get into tunes and songs of interest, and availability.
For a first meeting, I get people (this group could be 2 or 20!) into taropatch, show the 3 primary shapes of 1st position chords, and show and let them try some picking patterns and do some climbing and descending with the open and closed positions of "Slack Key Scale".
also, One or two turnarounds...yikes, could be a long lesson!
And what has been your experience with Classes? There is always the inevitable EXTREME differences of ability and experience--i.e. from extreme rookies to experienced "regular" guitar players who are ready to "rock and roll"...
(well maybe they get promoted to the class that meets right after Beginners, or maybe I promote the ringers, to help and advise!--but they better be prepared to play for the Aloha of it, no money for now!)
And ORGANIZING for this divergent mind will be especially important to the success of this dream and "won't go away" mission.
I figure, we teach what we want to learn mo' betta.
but also let me know of other offerings from the internet that are good basic and perhaps with luck, open, public domain...(like Ozzie's free tab download of Sonny's "Liloa's Mele").
And there may be new ones, or old ones I've missed!
(My wife estimates, by my stacks of music that there can't be any on this planet!.
well surprise, surprise surprise! I'm sure there are...
that is all...for now!
to
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Edited by - Kapila Kane on 09/14/2011 06:40:05 AM |
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Peter Medeiros
`Olu`olu
546 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2011 : 4:33:55 PM
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Hi Gordon,
Okay, off the top of my head. I haven’t posted in quite a while. So, you are about to take another leap of faith by teaching slack key? I wish you good luck on this venture.
From our previous correspondence, I know that you have taught string methods in the Denver School system for a while and this experience should help you immensely.
Cultivating an interest in slack key in Denver is going to be a challenge, in general, because of the differences in soundscape between Hawai‘i and Colorado. Think of this venture as a marathon and not a sprint, because you are going to have to build interest over time without the benefit of slack key artists’ tours, Hawaiian media nor the presence and reinforcement of Hawaiian culture.
I do not know what the metro Denver demographic for acoustic guitar is, but there will be a few within this cohort who are willing to learn slack key. When I was at CU I taught slack key to several students who were from Hawai‘i and they understood the slack key from the context of an islander. My students from Colorado on the other hand picked it up at a slower pace; slack key was something beyond their experience.
That being said, you do have a number of things in your favor. For you, slack key is a passion and something that you have been studying seriously for several years. You are also an experienced music teacher with a degree. You can read and write music and understand music theory. You are able to make a clear distinction as to playing traditional slack key as opposed to just playing a song in an altered tuning.
I think that you should start small and at music store that is receptive to slack key and has parking. You need to decide as to whether or not this going to be a one shot deal – a single 90 to 120 minute workshop, or if it going to be a series of classes. If it is a series of classes, are you going to be teaching year round? Is winter going to leave you with fewer students than say any other season?
As you already know musical pedagogy, you should keep the lessons simple. Do skills assessment at the very beginning of class. This will provide you with an idea of your student’s abilities and as to whether or not the material you are teaching is appropriate for their skill level. If you have students of widely varying skill levels, create another class that would address their skill level. That way you will meet the expectations and those who are really challenged will not feel like they are holding back the other players who may be more skilled. Furthermore, those who are more advanced will not get bored or irritated at the slow pace needed to convey information to a beginner. There will always be more beginners than advanced players.
If you have access to a laptop, LCD projector and access to the internet you can use examples of slack key from Youtube, or those from the -"He Mele Aloha" book songs on You Tube Wanda Certo put together on taropatch.net. Keep in touch. i still haven't figured out facebook yet.
Peter
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2177 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2011 : 4:43:23 PM
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| It's difficult to assess the student's desire to learn. Definitely getting the right hand thumb on the lower strings is important. I found that if students can do the thumb for 3 weeks, they can will go on to learn more. |
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Earl
`Olu`olu
USA
533 Posts |
Posted - 09/16/2011 : 05:43:19 AM
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Gordon,
The first intro lesson that I ever had was from Mark Nelson. It was a 90-minute workshop during a non-Hawaiian music festival, in Alaska of all places. This was the first time that I had really heard slack key, and it was captivating.
The lesson was in taro patch, and basically just open and closed positions on the 1st and 3rd strings, combined with an alternating bass. Mark also taught us one fairly simple turnaround. With those simple building blocks, the group had something that sounded half decent by the end of the workshop. Nothing succeeds like success.
The concept could be expanded to a 4-6 week mini course, adding new turnarounds and working a few simple songs.
As for skills, that is always a challenge in a group setting. There will be a wide variety of abilities that show up. Absolute beginners will need to just strum the chords, or maybe boom-chuck the bass and chords (mahalo for that, Kevin Brown). Those with some finger picking skills can start with a simple picking pattern and build from there.
I strongly recommended the Ozzie book (and/or DVD depending on how one learns) for those that want to go beyond the first taste. As I have learned more complex tunes, it is amazing to see the underlying nuggets of information from those first few songs. Ozzie was able to sneak in a lot more than it appears on the surface.
Earl
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Kapila Kane
Ha`aha`a
USA
1051 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2011 : 07:47:00 AM
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Thanks, good feedback.
Yes, I know it's a Pacific sized puddle/universe...
not happening yet, but will let you know if I do hold court for a small group.
all ideas sound like right track...
probably will try one at of the acoustic stores, (or at my house with 2 or 3, or 4.)
and it will be a blessing if the first attempt is a small group...
and now back to the patch.
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If you were to share/teach a slack lesson?...
