A little information about our beginning band teaching method, CMLS. What is CMLS? It stands for the Comprehensive Music Learning Sequence. It is a way to create the total musician using rhythm, ear training, and singing. Who came up with this method? Well, it is attributed to two people. James Froseth created the method basing it heavily on the teachings of Edwin Gordon along with Orff, Kodaly, Suzuki, and Dalcroze. Students in band receive instruction in the CMLS method everyday. What is involved in the CMLS process? The complete process uses 11 steps in 3 components as listed below. Rhythmic Component of CMLS Step 1: Synchronized Rhythmic Movement Purpose: To develop rhythmic feeling for consistent tempo, meter, and patterns of rhythmic sound and silence. Step 2: Rhythmic Verbal Association-Imitation Purpose: To develop the ability to associate rhythmic syllables to the sound and feel of rhythmic patterns Step 3: Rhythmic Verbal Association-Evaluation Purpose: To evaluate students' understanding of what is heard rhythmically Step 4: Rhythmic Visual Association-Imitation Step 5: Rhythmic Visual Association-Evaluation Purpose: To develop Rhythmic pattern reading skills and to evaluate students' ability to read rhythmic notation at sight Melodic/Vocal Component of CMLS Step 6: Melodic Verbal Association-Imitation Purpose: To develop the ability to associate melodic syllables to the sound of melodic patterns Step 7: Melodic Verbal Association-Imitation Purpose: To evaluate students' understanding of what is heard melodically Instrumental Component of CMLS Step 8: Ear-to-Hand Purpose: To develop aural skill through melodic ear-to-hand coordination Step 9: Visual Association Skills Purpose: To learn to associate the sound of melodic patterns with noted melodic patterns Step 10: Instrumental Pattern Reading Skills Purpose: To develop the ability to generalize music learning Step 11: Supplementary Self-Study Purpose: To motivate, to maximize learning potential, and to develop musical independence Questions about the CMLS method? Drop me a line at mpellas@wcpss.net Information provided by Dr. John Kuehn, Indiana University of PA. |
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