Constructivism and Discovery Learning--models of instructional design

Discovery learning is an active inquiry-based method. This is opposed to direct instruction and lecturing, where the learner is passively engaged in the material. In the instrumental music classroom, it makes intuitive sense that direct instruction and lecturing would be the preferred modes of communication. I think that it takes a creative and dedicated teacher to think of ways in which learners can interact with the information to get away from the "teacher-based" modes of communication and into the "student based" modes.

A creative instrumental classroom teacher can help students become their own teachers by giving them basic information through direct instruction. Once students know enough basic technique, a teacher can encourage active discovery. One way that teachers can do this is to have a time where students experiment with alternate fingerings to discover a variety of ways to finger a note. This will help students begin to actively think about their role in the music-making process, not just as "button-pushers"--giving students a role in this way will help them feel that they are actively contributing to their experience, not merely "passing through" their experience in an instrumental music class.

Giving students a structure to practice improvising is another way to encourage divergent thinking and discovery learning. If basic chordal sequences are written down for musicians and they have a time where they can actively experiment with the notes around the chordal structures, they will discover, on their own, what sounds "right" and what doesn't. If the teacher actively encourages "wrong" notes, students will learn, on their own, what notes will "fit" and what notes will not. This can be a powerful learning tool in an instrumental classroom that might otherwise be powered by passive, teacher-based learning.