Hochapeafarm
Well-known member
As a former teacher in the field of adult education for several years, I am always fascinated by how adults learn most effectively. In general, I have done a lot of research into this topic; my thesis was specifically about how adults learn and how adults prefer to learn -- especially based upon his or her own specific learning styles.
With the above said, one of the things that can affect our learning is how we respond to feedback. This can be feedback from our teachers, our friends, our family, or even from folks we've never met. Feedback, of course, comes in all forms. It can either be encouraging and supportive; it can be critical, yet constructive; it can be non-constructive and/or just plain damaging and hurtful.
With respect to learning how to play the ukulele, I'd be curious to see how folks here on this forum -- beginners uke'ers through advanced uke'ers -- all respond to positive and/or negative feedback when you put yourself "out there." What I mean by this is, for example, if you're like me, you might post videos of yourself playing tunes on your YouTube channel. Or, perhaps you actually play live in front of an audience. Maybe you just play for your family or friends from time to time -- or maybe you only play in front of your uke teacher/instructor. Anytime you open yourself up to receiving any kind of feedback from someone with your uke playing, I would love to hear how you respond to this feedback and how you feel it either helps or harms you in your improvement in playing -- and perhaps even your motivation to play more or less.
Finally, I'd like to share my own personal experience with learning to play the ukulele the past two years and how feedback has both helped me and harmed me, with respect to my growth as a uke player:
First, as I've mentioned, I've put myself out there on YouTube with ukulele videos. I did this because it was a) a way to document my progress and b) I wanted to share what I've learned and connect with other uke'ers out there in "cyber space." Aside from Skype ukulele internet lessons with my uke teacher, I've really never played "live" in front of anyone, barring my husband once in a blue moon.
This forum has been both a pivotal and instrumental factor in my progress and also in my motivation to push myself to learn more, to play better. Doing so has further increased my love, passion, and joy in playing this wonderful, diminutive instrument. I am so inspired by what I see you all do here on UU with your own uke playing! The past year in which I have been an "active" member of UU, so many UU members have reached out and have given me a TON of support, encouragement, helpful hints -- you name it -- to help me grow as a ukulele player. If it wasn't for all of this positive feedback, I know that I would not be where I am now with my playing.
Now, there's my YouTube channel: this has been a different experience with respect to feedback. Yes, I know...it is YouTube...and I know better than to expect it to be akin to what I experience here on UU. I made the choice to "open the door," let anyone in and, pretty much, say anything that they want about my uke playing, whether it be positive or negative feedback. There are days in which I've received such terrible, non-constructive, hurtful feedback that I've thought about throwing in the towel altogether with uke playing. Yes, I am a sensitive person...and I've been learning (trying to learn!) to grow a "thick skin." Personally, for me, this kind of feedback has no benefit in motivating me to play or to become a better player. I have never learned very well through humiliation; I've had teachers/instructors in the past who did use this tactic in their teaching approach/style. I suppose that there are folks out there who are motivated to learn and get better with this method. Again, for me, personally, this teaching style isn't congruent with my learning preference/style.
I know this is a long post, so if you've made it this far, thanks for taking time to read this. I'd love to hear about your experiences in how you respond to feedback, positive and/or negative, with respect to your own uke playing. This is not for anything official that I am doing -- I am honestly just curious to see what other people on this forum think about this topic. Btw, if you prefer, you can PM me instead if you would rather do so.
Peace,
~ Chelle
With the above said, one of the things that can affect our learning is how we respond to feedback. This can be feedback from our teachers, our friends, our family, or even from folks we've never met. Feedback, of course, comes in all forms. It can either be encouraging and supportive; it can be critical, yet constructive; it can be non-constructive and/or just plain damaging and hurtful.
With respect to learning how to play the ukulele, I'd be curious to see how folks here on this forum -- beginners uke'ers through advanced uke'ers -- all respond to positive and/or negative feedback when you put yourself "out there." What I mean by this is, for example, if you're like me, you might post videos of yourself playing tunes on your YouTube channel. Or, perhaps you actually play live in front of an audience. Maybe you just play for your family or friends from time to time -- or maybe you only play in front of your uke teacher/instructor. Anytime you open yourself up to receiving any kind of feedback from someone with your uke playing, I would love to hear how you respond to this feedback and how you feel it either helps or harms you in your improvement in playing -- and perhaps even your motivation to play more or less.
Finally, I'd like to share my own personal experience with learning to play the ukulele the past two years and how feedback has both helped me and harmed me, with respect to my growth as a uke player:
First, as I've mentioned, I've put myself out there on YouTube with ukulele videos. I did this because it was a) a way to document my progress and b) I wanted to share what I've learned and connect with other uke'ers out there in "cyber space." Aside from Skype ukulele internet lessons with my uke teacher, I've really never played "live" in front of anyone, barring my husband once in a blue moon.
This forum has been both a pivotal and instrumental factor in my progress and also in my motivation to push myself to learn more, to play better. Doing so has further increased my love, passion, and joy in playing this wonderful, diminutive instrument. I am so inspired by what I see you all do here on UU with your own uke playing! The past year in which I have been an "active" member of UU, so many UU members have reached out and have given me a TON of support, encouragement, helpful hints -- you name it -- to help me grow as a ukulele player. If it wasn't for all of this positive feedback, I know that I would not be where I am now with my playing.
Now, there's my YouTube channel: this has been a different experience with respect to feedback. Yes, I know...it is YouTube...and I know better than to expect it to be akin to what I experience here on UU. I made the choice to "open the door," let anyone in and, pretty much, say anything that they want about my uke playing, whether it be positive or negative feedback. There are days in which I've received such terrible, non-constructive, hurtful feedback that I've thought about throwing in the towel altogether with uke playing. Yes, I am a sensitive person...and I've been learning (trying to learn!) to grow a "thick skin." Personally, for me, this kind of feedback has no benefit in motivating me to play or to become a better player. I have never learned very well through humiliation; I've had teachers/instructors in the past who did use this tactic in their teaching approach/style. I suppose that there are folks out there who are motivated to learn and get better with this method. Again, for me, personally, this teaching style isn't congruent with my learning preference/style.
I know this is a long post, so if you've made it this far, thanks for taking time to read this. I'd love to hear about your experiences in how you respond to feedback, positive and/or negative, with respect to your own uke playing. This is not for anything official that I am doing -- I am honestly just curious to see what other people on this forum think about this topic. Btw, if you prefer, you can PM me instead if you would rather do so.
Peace,
~ Chelle
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