Eager to begin, I arrived early at Piano Manor...
...accompanied by the aerial exploits of a huge dragonfly, who paused briefly on a blade of grass, so that I could get a good look at him. Others soon arrived and Amy’s creative culinary expertise produced an amazing breakfast casserole made from—get this, leftover pizza! Very satisfying.
Once breakfast was out of the way, Joy handed out more door prizes and this time I was the recipient of a book on my wish list: The Ways Children Learn Music: An Introduction and Practical Guide to Music Learning Theory by Eric Bluestine! I also received a pamphlet titled Quick and Easy Introductions by Edwin E. Gordon, which covered the following topics: Introductions to Music Learning Theory; Audiation; Preparatory Audiation; and Music Learning Theory for Newborn and Young Children. I have some happy reading ahead of me. :)
Joy took a quick group shot of all of us and after a brief discussion to determine our preferences, we dove right in to the final day’s activities, beginning with a walk-through of Joy’s own book, Keys at Play: 88 progressive pieces for pianists of all ages. Joy was looking for a resource that presented rote pieces following Gordon’s theories on Skill Learning Sequence. Not finding what she was looking for, she wrote her own. The pieces are simple and can easily be taught using Gordon’s Rote Song Procedure but also help students “more easily develop musical understanding and technical skills at the piano.” This is a resource that I can use with my own students.
After a stretch break, we learned an ear piece together (I.e. by rote), only this time, Joy led us through the steps we might want to take in preparing our students to play these pieces and we role-played that. This was a very useful follow-up to the role-playing we did yesterday, when we all paired off and taught each other a song.
Another very useful follow-up was the end-of-retreat review which allowed us to articulate answers to our own questions about rote teaching, the use of ear pieces, audiation, Music Learning Theory, MLT sequencing, and the use of movement in teaching rhythm.
My key takeaways:
~ I learned about available tools that I can use with my own students that address specific needs they might have. ~
~ I knew the topic was going to be rote-teaching but what I didn’t know was that rote teaching as used in the music teacher studio is so much more than just learning a song without reading notes. ~
~ I am so excited about how this new knowledge and available tools can help me help my students in spreading the gift of music! ~
