TEACHER PART 4 - CREATIVITY

Creativity – mean choosing the road less travelled. There is a need to draw out the creativity from each student. Sometimes teaching need not be confined by the four walls of a classroom. Creativity does not just imply individual development. Creativity must also be used to awaken the conscience of a student to be  an ‘ others centred ‘ person. Creativity also means that a student uses his/her talents at the disposal and service of a community or to inspire other individuals.

There are varied possibility that may be explored for a student to be involved.

-         Busking in a group

-         Playing by a seaside/ park/ jungle setting

-         Child to child teaching encounter

-         Having a picnic lesson.

-         Playing in an old folks home

-         Playing at Orphanages

-         Playing at Hospitals

-         Home concerts for a cause.

I feel that creativity always requires a special kind of courage, one where you would take a risk and attempt something different even if you meet failure. If one is disturbed by a nagging thought or restlessness that there is a better way – this is creativity prompting you. If one feels dissatisfaction and an obvious imbalance when teaching – creativity is speaking to you. If one feels anxiety towards a student, creativity is forcing and imposing on you to do something small or dramatic – don’t ignore all these prominent signs!

Creativity also means that a teacher does not teach by the book alone and by music notes. All students should be offered and encouraged with the opportunity to attempt to compose or even play accompaniment without notes to any piece of music or song in different settings. The institutive senses can only see the light of dawn if a teacher struggles always to seek the variables that would help a child.

Dominic Damian

16^th October 2013