Each semester, the NAfME chapter at Rutgers University hosts an event to encourage dictation practice for students braving the aural skills program, and this semester’s rendition was a happy success!
Too often, the atmosphere when practicing something as difficult as aural skills can become stressful and disheartening, creating a scenario in which students decide they’d rather accept defeat than struggle onward. For the NAfME chapter at Mason Gross, we strived to rework that atmosphere. Instead of silent work, a dedicated team of peer tutors circled around the room conversing with students about their own processes when combating a difficult dictation and checking student’s work as they went. Students were able to do their dictation practices on chalkboards around the room instead of their manuscript books as well, going back and forth with others about the correct details and creating an environment of collaboration.
Free refreshments circled around the room so students could snack while they worked, and Dr. Hwang, a professor within the aural skills program, provided a unique and insightful point-of-view from the other side of the experience. By the end of the event, everyone seemed more confident in their ability to dictate, and much more comfortable with each other. The attendance for this event was the highest of the semester so far, and we were so glad to see the amount of students still interested in this tradition. We can’t wait to be back next semester with it again!
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