Utilizing body movements or motions to cue instrument play with students is a great way to foster timing and connectivity. The student in this video is playing an open tuned guitar. The strings are tuned to a G chord. Throughout the song “Ten Minutes Ago”, the musical goal is to play the G chord as it appears in the song. The instructor has several options. A lyric sheet could be provided with the targeted words highlighted, or a G placed above the word where a G chord is to played. This is a great skill for a student to have in the goal for the song is to played independently at home. If the student is working on performing the song with the instructor, then maybe a more interpersonal approach could be explored. I have had great success using “lean-in” cueing with a variety of clients. I find that it strengthens eye contact with the instructor and often assists the student in improving their flow and timing of their instrument play. It also works great if you are playing an instrument to accompany a student and your hands are busy! I have also used lean-in cueing in small groups of 2-3 students, leaning “forward” for one student, and then to the “left” or “right” for the others.
Spectrum Press Challenge: Send in a video of you and your student or group using lean-in cueing.
Ten Minutes Ago from Wade Richards on Vimeo.