Transforming Education: Building Skills for a Lifetime of Music Making
In Episode 74, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Berry McWhorter about how his deep dive into Japanese music education transformed his approach to teaching. After discovering the impressive performance of Japanese middle school bands during his studies, Berry embarked on a journey to understand the unique student-led structure of Japanese music programs. He found that these programs place significant responsibility on students to lead rehearsals, manage performances, and even handle administrative tasks, all with minimal direct supervision from teachers.
Inspired by this model, Berry applied similar strategies in his own high school band teaching. He encouraged student leadership by implementing student-led sectionals and allowing students to choose and conduct their concert pieces. This shift toward student ownership, influenced by the Japanese approach, created a more engaged and motivated classroom environment. Berry emphasizes that this method not only improves students’ musical abilities, but also instills valuable life skills such as independence, responsibility, and collaboration.
Listen to the full interview:
Here are some key insights from Episode 74:
- Student Leadership: Student-led rehearsals encourage independence and leadership, inspired by Japanese music programs.
- Ownership: Students choose and conduct concert pieces, fostering responsibility and pride in their learning process.
- Peer Teaching: Peer-to-peer instruction empowers students to teach and mentor each other.
- Lifelong Learning: Focus is on developing lifelong music learners through student-driven learning.
- Learning from Mistakes: Students are encouraged to learn from mistakes, creating a safe space for growth and experimentation.
Connect with Berry and learn more:
- Social media – @berry_mcwhorter_drums
- Bravo Music
Ready for more?
You can check out the full interview on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. Or you can listen right here, on Spotify Podcasts!
You might also enjoy these other episodes perfect for the back-to-school:
- Episode 25 – The Power of a Mission Statement, featuring Kevin Feher
- Episode 31 – Creating a Culture for Student Empowerment, featuring Matthew Arau
- Episode 51 – Harmony and Connection: Leveraging SEL in Music Education, featuring Elizabeth Peterson
- Episode 52 – Unleashing Our Impact: Empowering Music Educators, featuring Jen Rafferty
