Ever since attending the fabulous MTNA workshop session, “The Inclusion of Students With Disabilities in the Music Studio” by Beth Bauer and Scott Price, I have been more intrigued by and eager to learn about teaching students with disabilities. I have had students with various disabilities and learning difficulties over the years, but I have […]
Philosophical Musings
Delight-Directed Piano Lessons
As part of both the home education community and the music education community, I have benefited from a wide variety of teaching philosophies and resources. I love reading and learning from dedicated educators, and considering how I can implement their ideas in my own teaching. Yesterday, I came across a brief, but insightful, article by […]
Inspiration from Russia
It’s been quite a few years since I first became familiar with 20th Century Russian writer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, but I was re-reading his Templeton Address recently and was struck by this observation he makes concerning art: “In the East art has collapsed because it has been knocked down and trampled upon, but in the West […]
It Takes More Than Motivation
“Deliberate practice requires sustained concentration, and the rewards are subtle and apparent only in the long term. Thus, one needs motivation in order to enter into and sustain the hard work of deliberate practice. But the learning happens not simply through putting in the hours, but through doing so intelligently.” ~Sanjoy Mahajan >>Read the rest […]
Teaching Tips from Snowboard School: Part Five – Provide Ample Time for Individual Practice
Even though our snowboard class consisted of eight people, I was impressed at how effectively our instructor gave us personal attention. However, while he observed and critiqued each of us individually, he also gave enough instruction to the group as a whole so that each person could keep working at his or her own pace […]
This Quote Should Be on Every Wall in My Studio…
“If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not you’ll find an excuse.” I’m still pondering the results of the Practice Survey I conducted in my studio last week. It’s interesting to see how many of my students selected the option, “I am too busy; my schedule doesn’t allow time for […]
