The Blues Chase the Blues Away

4 A’s worth sharing this week: teachers still talk too much, the funny thing about the blues, new music, and more…

Here are four things (A’s) we thought were worth sharing this week:

A1. Teachers talk too much. In an article earlier this month, Charlie shared a new-school-year resolution to talk less, and leave more room for music making, in lessons and classes. “Admittedly, it’s easier said than done—the inclination to explain everything has been baked-in somewhere deep down inside of me—but it’s been ever present in my mind these past few weeks. And, I think the fact that this is so challenging says something about how valuable this idea may be.” — CC

Reflecting on the videoed lessons, I became more aware of my own use of language—in general there were too many words too often, diagnostic and critical and sometimes not specific enough to be helpful. — Adele Nisbet

On the topic of giving students feedback, research shows that those who have practiced with extrinsic feedback often perform worse than those who have had no feedback at all. Extrinsic feedback seems to enhance performance, but not retention—it may even degrade learning. Students can start to use such feedback as a crutch only being able to play well at the instruction of the teacher. 

Read the full article here.

A2. Poll: how many days do you go without listening to/making music?

Good news, our friends are on it! A whopping 92% of you listen to music everyday, and a respectable 46% of you make music everyday (we can get both numbers up, we think!).

To participate in future polls, make sure you’re following Foray Music on Instagram.

A3. Quote: “Funny thing about the blues. You play ‘em cause you got ‘em. But when you play ‘em, you lose ‘em. The blues chase the blues away.” – Buddy Guy

That's especially true for 32-year-old Kentuckian Nat Myers. Special correspondent for the PBS NewsHour, Tom Casciato has the story for the arts and culture series, CANVAS.

A4. New music this week: After contemplating retirement, Mitski returned with a new album, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, that’s warmer, quieter, and more organic-sounding (Apple Music / Spotify). “For the first time in a while, she sounds like she has space to breathe.” The late trumpeter, Jaimie Branch’s third and final album, Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war)), “opens dazzling new paths in her work” (Apple Music / Spotify). It’s a heartbreaking glimpse of where she might have gone next, but more importantly, it’s a joy to hear. Whether leading her Fly or Die quartet or working as a prolific collaborator across scenes and cities, the trumpeter, composer, and vocalist, who died of undisclosed causes at 39 last year, made music from a position of joyful defiance. And, Olivia Rodrigo, who rocks out on her biting, charismatic second album, GUTS, “turning the ritual humiliations of girlhood into dazzling, over-the-top spectacles” (Apple Music / Spotify)

Thanks for reading!

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We think you’re super,
Charlie & Amy

Coda: I don’t know what it is, but it has prolonged my life!

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