David Kettlewell

Coupling the Words and the Notes Lovingly

The music we hear around us today is built on a tradition from Renaissance times - alive today, but unconscious and almost forgotten - in which every note of music begins life as the mirroring partner of a syllable of text. An awareness of the intrinsic harmony between language and music sows seeds of confidence in the teacher who would like to use music to present learners with new material. And the very special aura which this marriage creates is the perfect nourishing bed for the seeds of confidence planted in the learner.

The process includes - making friends with the music - making friends with the words - discovering the harmony between them - discovering different 'layers' of rhythm - discovering different national styles - discovering ways to manage all of these.

No previous musical skills are expected!

Specially interesting for language teachers, but relevant to all.