Sometimes, when a person has been studying and practicing something for a long time, acquiring a high level of expertise in it, it becomes easy to overlook the simpler aspects of the discipline—those concepts that one learned when first being introduced to the discipline, and then forgotten once more advanced levels were reached. In music, … Continue reading Musical Ups and Downs–Why is Contour Important?
Robert Adams
How Can A Musical Score Be Used As A Listening Map?
Many of us use listening maps to guide our students through musical works. When you think about it, listening maps are really music scores for non-music readers. They typically represent the main themes and sections of a piece with pictures or graphics. It is also possible to use an actual music score as a listening … Continue reading How Can A Musical Score Be Used As A Listening Map?
What Is A Good Age To Begin Taking Musical Instrument Lessons?
Parents often ask and teachers often debate what is a good age at which to begin music lessons? There is no single answer to this question. Many factors must be considered on an individual basis. Physical development, musical background, and instrument size are three of the most important things to consider. In this post, I … Continue reading What Is A Good Age To Begin Taking Musical Instrument Lessons?
How Often Does Your Music Room Teach Music?
The next time you walk into your music room, take a good look. What can your students learn just from looking around the room? What can they find to ask questions about? What answers can they find? As I am writing this post, I am surveying my room today with these questions in mind. I … Continue reading How Often Does Your Music Room Teach Music?
Why Do Music Teachers Teach What They Teach?
Motivation is important to everyone and to everything we do. Motivation is not about what we do, but about why we do it. People do what they do for a reason. There is always something that drives a person's motivation. Today, I want to ask the question, “what motivates music teachers to teach what they teach?” … Continue reading Why Do Music Teachers Teach What They Teach?
How Can Symphony Orchestras Attract Young Audiences?
Many have considered the problem of how to cause classical music to become more popular, especially with younger audiences. Data indicating a shrinking audience for live concerts, particularly among younger people, have worried arts organizations and educators for some time. It has also been noted that while attendance at live classical concerts has often decreased, … Continue reading How Can Symphony Orchestras Attract Young Audiences?
What Are Questions Students Ask About Music Reading?
During my classes the last two days, students have asked me several questions about musical notation. I thought I might share these questions and the answers I gave to them. I think it is helpful to know what is going on in the minds of students while we are teaching them. Sometimes, lines of thinking, … Continue reading What Are Questions Students Ask About Music Reading?
Does That Instrument Always Sound Like That?
Tomorrow, my fourth grade students will attend a young peoples concert, put on by the local symphony orchestra. This is an annual event, and is by no means the same program each year; however this year, the concert will focus on introducing the audience to the various instruments and instrument families of the orchestra. One … Continue reading Does That Instrument Always Sound Like That?
What Are Some Effective Ways to Teach Dotted Rhythms?
In music, there are three kinds of durations: beat elongations, beat divisions, and beat equivalents. The beat being elongated, divided, or equaled is called the tactus; it is the one being tracked as the pulse or "heartbeat" of the music. Beat elongations are durations longer than the tactus, beat divisions are durations that are shorter … Continue reading What Are Some Effective Ways to Teach Dotted Rhythms?
What are Ways to Handle Performance Anxiety in Student Musicians?
For anyone who performs music in public, or directs music ensembles, performance anxiety is something that must be dealt with. Different people experience performance anxiety differently, and to different degrees, but the person who has no anxiety when performing in public is rare. Last Friday, my 5th grade chorus participated in a choral adjudication. My … Continue reading What are Ways to Handle Performance Anxiety in Student Musicians?
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