Speed Learning By Slowing Down
7th in a series of articles about boomboxes
While Califone media players are often used in classrooms for language learning and class projects, they are also relied on to teach dance.
For the Performer Plus™, the variable speed playback function is often used by both disciplines. According to Julia Johnston, a Clogging Instructor with Grand Prix Cloggers in Florida, “My Performer Plus allows me to slow down and speed up the music according to the class instruction. I can slow down or speed up the CD and the cassette so that helps me out a lot. I love it.” Being able to control the tempo of a song is important for dance students to have ample time to learn the dances correctly. “The 2455AV-02 boombox allows me to slow down music for new dances until the dancers are sure of their steps,” said Nuala Doherty, a dance teacher with the Harrison Irish Dance Academy in the United Kingdom.
Shares Bob Howell, a former school Principal who has called square dances for 55 years on 6 continents, “The portability and power of the Performer Plus allows me to lead almost any sized group. When leading dances or teaching groups of differing abilities, the Voice Over and Variable Speed playback features are why it really stands apart for me. For energetic groups, I’ll race up the music’s speed +15% or when I lead “sit-down dancing” sessions in retirement homes, the pace is slowed -15%. The remote control gives me added flexibility to move about.” The player’s built-in mic allows instructors to record onto a cassette to provide their students with instructions needed to perfect their dance routines.
All in all it’s the player’s variable speed capability that continues to catch the attention of dance instructors across the world. Taylor, the General Manager of the National Theatre for Dance & Drama in Australia, states that “the variable speed/pitch control on our Performer Plus is essential in the teaching of classical dance. Our units needed to be robust, portable & give good quality sound at a reasonable volume. This player satisfies what we were looking for in a boombox.”
Cindy Dylus, a dance instructor and owner of Dance Dynamics in Indiana concludes: “The Performer Plus helps my dance students gain confidence. When testing their responses and smooth transitions for specific dance moves/steps, I use the variable speed feature to play the music at a faster speed. They know they are doing a wonderful job when I don’t need to slow down the music and you can see their increased confidence in themselves and they start enjoying their own performance. The best thing in my opinion about the Performer Plus is having the pitch control for the CD and cassette in one unit! You don’t find this combination in other brands. The Performer Plus is the right aide for me. I no longer need to have several different equipments in my classroom.”
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