MINDY PETERSON, NCTM

Photo credit: Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

May 26, 2020

New and innovative music-making methods can engage even more students in the life-enhancing creative process of music-making. Widely available technology brings with it a plethora of additional opportunities to diversify school music curriculum and ignite the innate love of music in students who may otherwise not be a good fit for traditional school music programs.

Guest

My guest today is Dr. Clint Randles, Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of South Florida, where he teaches courses on “Progressive Music Education Methods.” These courses essentially prepare future teachers to teach school music classes that don’t yet exist widespread. In addition to his teaching, Dr. Randles started an iPad band with a colleague in 2010 that played all over the country, including at major technology product conventions, on ESPN, for TEDxTampa Bay, and at the Opryland Resort in Nashville; and led to his recruitment by America’s Got Talent. He is passionate about music education and the creative process, and is author of the book, “To Create: Imagining the Good Life through Music.”

Notes

• Watching Mr. Holland’s Opus during his senior year in high school influenced Dr. Randles’ decision to go into music education.
• “Teachers must think creatively about change and move forward believing in a mantra soaked in, filled, and spilling over with possibility. Again, creativity is the key.” – Randles in “To Create”
• We discuss progressive music education methods that can include creating musical products; jam bands; use of computers and tablets as instruments; songwriting; improvisation; financial and developmental accessibility.
• Randles is a multi-instrumentalist, husband, father of four, and passionate lover of music.

Improv

Dr. Randles describes how to use a looper pedal to create, layer, and improvise with sounds.

Connect

• Dr. Clint Randles’ website
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Newly published book: “To Create: Imagining the Good Life through Music” (UPDATE 2/5/21: Available from Amazon 3/1/21)
• Publications: Google Scholar
• Dr. Randles also teaches classes for students with disabilities in a community music outreach sponsored by Arts4All Florida (formerly VSA).

• Dr. Randles started an iPad band with a colleague in 2010 that played all over the country, including at major technology product conventions, on ESPN, for TEDxTampa Bay, and at the Opryland Resort in Nashville; and led to his recruitment by America’s Got Talent. Here is an example of the iPad band playing:

Coda

Dr. Randles shares a story about reconnecting a student to music-making after her life-altering car accident. He says, “I get emotional every time I tell this story.”

Closing Words

Thank you so much to Dr. Randles for sharing with us today – it is fascinating to hear about variety of innovate ways music can be made and enjoyed in a school setting in the 21st century. A huge thanks to Dr. Randles and school music teachers everywhere who do so much to enhance lives with music. If you have a story of how a non-traditional method of music education has impacted you or someone close to you, I’d love to hear about it! You can connect with me on my website, social media, or email.

Quick update on my YouTube journey that I mentioned in last week’s episode – if you listened to that, you know that I am trying to learn the ropes of YouTube because my piano students’ spring recital is going to be virtual, on YouTube, this spring; it’s actually a week from today. Quick update – and just one more reason I love having teenagers – my 15-year-old son offered to help me out as I was working on it, and then actually offered to put the entire thing together for me! I told him, “I don’t think you’re going to want to deal with me on this, because this is my spring recital and I’m going to be really picky about it.” And he lives with me and knows just how picky I can be about every little detail; and he STILL was willing to do it! So God bless Erik – and it really says a lot about how tech savvy and responsible he is that I AM taking him up on the offer, because I really wouldn’t consider it if I didn’t trust his capability.

As I mentioned last week, I am getting videoed performances trickling in from each of my students, and it is like Christmas morning for me every time one comes through! I’m also asking them to submit any fun bloopers that are generated in the process, because those are pretty cute and entertaining, too, and go to show that great performers make something LOOK easy that is actually NOT easy. I did receive permission from my son, Erik, and his friend to post this cute little blooper of their introduction to their duet that the recorded this past week!

Speaking of last week’s episode, check that out if you haven’t already – this is Memorial Day week, and last week’s guest is an incredibly inspiring Marine veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Richard Casper, who tells his story and shares how music is serving those who serve our country.

Since Memorial Day is considered the unofficial start of summer in the United States, Happy Summer! Thank you for joining me today. Until next week, may your life be enhanced with music.

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