Suzanne Wolfe on fri 21 sep 01
Dear Clayarters --
This is a question for those of you who teach in a university setting. I
would like to know what your opinions and policies are regarding the use
of radios during class time. We are currently having this discussion, and
it would help to be aware of others opinions who are in the same position.
I should mention that we are a big program, and run about 10 six-hour
classes per week. We have three adjacent studio classrooms.
Also, if you don't mind, I would like to hear the reasons for your
policies. (You can email me back personally if you like.)
Thanks and aloha,
Suzanne Wolfe
vince pitelka on fri 21 sep 01
> This is a question for those of you who teach in a university setting. I
> would like to know what your opinions and policies are regarding the use
> of radios during class time.
Suzanne -
Radios, CDs, tapes, whatever makes things go smoothly. You can't make
generalizations, so it is up to each teacher in each program. I do not like
most mainstream radio stations, so I try to tactfully discourage radios
unless they are tuned to NPR. I do not want to impose any particular
musical tastes on my students, but I do refuse to listen to any music that
yells at me. Other than that, I am open to all options that are not
profane. We generally listen to CDs, an ecclectic mix of almost everything
you can imagine. I do think that having music playing (not too loud) makes
the class more productive, and encourages students to talk among themselves.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
Martin Howard on sat 22 sep 01
Suzanne asks a very important question.
My experience in classes of two students plus myself is that some very
carefully selected music is acceptable. I use a particular CD of panpipe
music, repeated ad infinitum, rather than a radio. I throw best when that is
playing and two students quite like it also (or say they do!).
Sometimes, when working by myself I have the radio on, but never when
students are present.
Some students prefer absolute quiet, broken only be the squeak from a
wheel.
Music is so personal that I cannot imagine a larger group than mine
accepting it, unless it was very beautiful, quiet and background.
Even then such groups would be bound to include the person who just couldn't
stand it.
Even asking the students may bring forth not wholly honest responses.
They might not want to hurt teacher's feelings:-)
But radios in a classroom situation seems a definite "no no" IMHE.
But then Webbs Cottage is out in the country, very quiet (just four of five
cars pass at rush hour), and the view from the pottery is of a gentle
winding garden path flanked by vegetables and flowers, leading to a pond
with water lilies.
Anything to upset that tranquillity seems out of place and disturbing to the
action of reforming the clay that lies beneath that scene.
Martin Howard
Webb's Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
England
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
Frank Gaydos on sat 22 sep 01
Suzanne,
I assist five different instructors at our Community College.
Some instructors like the music and insist on it while others will never
play it.
While others allow students to use their personal music systems and that
seems to be a good compromise.
If played aloud, the music is of the soft jazz variety.
Frank Gaydos
----- Original Message -----
From: "Suzanne Wolfe"
Subject: Radios During Class
> Dear Clayarters --
> This is a question for those of you who teach in a university setting. I
> would like to know what your opinions and policies are regarding the use
> of radios during class time.
becky schroeder on sat 22 sep 01
>
> > This is a question for those of you who teach in a university setting.
>I
> > would like to know what your opinions and policies are regarding the use
> > of radios during class time.
i agree with vince on this one. i've been a nurse forever and remember when
there was silence in the operating rooms. things go much better now that
the surgeons bring in whatever music helps them. so i figure if brain
surgery goes better with tunes so will my pots.
becky schroeder
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Dai Scott on sat 22 sep 01
I think the volume of whatever's playing is as important than what kind of
music it is. When my husband is working in the studio with me, he has the
radio on fairly loud, and it drives me crazy! I feel agitated the whole
time. So, when he's not in the studio, I tend to have no radio; I love the
silence and being "alone" with my own thoughts. I also don't like a radio
on in the house in the morning---takes me a while to get my brain going, I
guess, and the radio is a definite intruder
Dai, in Kelowna, BC, throwing in silence for 4 fall shows.
"There is no right way to do the wrong thing."
potterybydai@home.com
vince pitelka on sat 22 sep 01
In one post there was a message of "personal music systems," i.e. - CD
players or tape players with headphones. I do not permit those in my
classes, because the student is lost in their own little world, and they
miss out on so much. I encourage them to speak up if they disapprove of
whatever music is being played, and I will always change the music if there
is any dissapproval. I would never subject students to music they do not
like, just as I will not listen to music which offends me. I do encourage
them to be open minded (just as I am) and they usually are.
Once students get to the advanced level and they are working in their own
semi-private studio spaces, then they are welcome to use personal music
systems. But in a normal class, personal music systems are too isolating,
and I do not like the message they give to the rest of the class.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
Ron Roy on sun 23 sep 01
On the other hand - I have seen a class room music situation almost
resulting in a trip to the hospital.
I was consulting to a tile firm once and I was told - the music thing got
so bad in the finishing department they were cutting each other power
cords.
I can't imagine being able to find music acceptable to everyone.
RR
>> > This is a question for those of you who teach in a university setting.
>>I
>> > would like to know what your opinions and policies are regarding the use
>> > of radios during class time.
>
>
>i agree with vince on this one. i've been a nurse forever and remember when
>there was silence in the operating rooms. things go much better now that
>the surgeons bring in whatever music helps them. so i figure if brain
>surgery goes better with tunes so will my pots.
>
>becky schroeder
Ron Roy
RR# 4
15084 Little Lake Rd..
Brighton,
Ontario, Canada
KOK 1H0
Residence 613-475-9544
Studio 613-475-3715
Fax 613-475-3513
Dannon Rhudy on sun 23 sep 01
....>would like to know what your opinions and policies are regarding the use
>of radios during class time. ...
I've been out of town and not seen the list for some days,
but would like to weigh in on this.
My policy re: radios in class are: no headsets, period. No
radio while I'm lecturing or demonstrating. Music during
studio time may not irritate even ONE student (or me), or it goes off.
No one should have to work under annoying conditions. In
ceramics, radio or tapes or cd's can be fairly catholic -I
don't permit heavy metal or rap because it drives ME nuts,
but otherwise they can choose. In drawing classes, again
nothing that irritates anyone trying to work, and further,
nothing with lyrics. Too distracting, I want drawing students
to stay in the "right" brain, and words are left-brain stuff.
Beginners have enough difficulty without a constant barrage
of words.
I'm in charge, so them's the rules.
regards
Dannon Rhudy
Scott Harrison on mon 24 sep 01
Suzanne,
I teach a Junior college ceramics group and we all tune to KPIG which is the
#1 internet radio station out of Freedom CA. I have a T1 line so the music sounds
clearer than FM. They play a good mix of Blues, Blugrass, Folk and Rock. They are
at kpig.com. Another good station is at radioparadise.com out of Paradise CA.
Scott Harrison
Suzanne Wolfe wrote:
> Dear Clayarters --
> This is a question for those of you who teach in a university setting. I
> would like to know what your opinions and policies are regarding the use
> of radios during class time. We are currently having this discussion, and
> it would help to be aware of others opinions who are in the same position.
> I should mention that we are a big program, and run about 10 six-hour
> classes per week. We have three adjacent studio classrooms.
> Also, if you don't mind, I would like to hear the reasons for your
> policies. (You can email me back personally if you like.)
> Thanks and aloha,
> Suzanne Wolfe
>
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Lee Burningham on tue 25 sep 01
Howdy,
I can't stand it any more. My reply earlier about music in the classroom was
a bunch of hooey! Very much tongue in cheek. Alex Solla, a sometimes
commentator on Clayart can give a bird's eye report on the soothing sounds
in my high school pottery studio. ;-))) My experience is that the more
rhythmic and moving the music, the more apt the students are to get moving
and get things done. There is no calm, quiet studio time in my studio. I
figure that will come after I am dead. I spend my time one-on-one with the
students as they grapple with different problems at their own pace. Don't
need the tunes off if it is a face to face. Any general announcements are
made when the tunes are turned off. Like Pavlov's dogs, noise, or in my
case, the lack of tunes indicates a change in the usual and time to pay
attention.
Check out the Education Digest, 1974(?) and there is a study in there that
reinforces the learning to music theories. Learning is enhanced and
retention is increased dramatically by combining the materials to be learned
with rhythmic music. Light classical was the suggested epitome but I have
used Van Halen, AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne, Led Zeppelin, or any of the "oldies"
radio stations and it all works.
How's that for opening up the can?
Lee Burningham
-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
there was silence in the operating rooms. things go much better now .... i
figure if brain
surgery goes better with tunes so will my pots.
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