Product Description
Musician & Teacher blends traditional music education with innovative curricular and educational changes currently taking place in the field. Designed for the first course in music education, Musician & Teacher surveys the theoretical, philosophical, historical, social, and psychological foundations of teaching music and pays tribute to the… More >>

Musician & Teacher: An Orientation to Music Education

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Whole Music offers a fervent message to elementary teachers – that music can be integrated into their classrooms and that it can be done applying the principles of whole language…. More >>

Whole Music: A Whole Language Approach to Teaching Music

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Finally, a publication geared for the classroom teacher. This book is the classroom teachers guide to teaching music in early childhood. Contains numerous songs, movement activities and teaching hints along with dances and games…. More >>

What? Me Teach Music? a Classroom Teacher’s Guide to Music in Early Childhood

During primary and secondary education, learning music is not exactly given much attention. It is but one of those “filler” subjects. But for a few more artistically-inclined people, this serves as a foundation for their future interest, or even way of living. And when one does decide to enter schools of music, one would know for sure that it is a passion, a dedication.

It is during these formative years that music teachers play their pivotal roles as future musicians’ mentors, even inspirations. Teaching is indeed a noble profession, more so a vocation. Yes, it is far from teaching math, or science. Said subjects are purely academic subjects that entail a teacher’s thorough knowledge. Teaching music, on the other hand, necessitates both knowledge and aptitude…and, probably even more importantly, passion.

Music teaching possibly started as a way of passing on a community’s tradition. India has in their ancient scriptures references to Indian classical music. The “Great Book of Music” or Kitab al-Musiqi al-Kabir was written by the Arab scholar al-Farabi in the 9th century.

In the Western world, music teaching may have started from the church, with cleric/monks teaching their hymns to those next in line, or to the religious. In fact, in the U.S.A., the first singing school was created by Reverend Thomas Symmes in 1717 in Boston, Massachusetts for “the purposes of improving singing and reading in the church”. With the continued popularity of music and its commercialization, organized instruction evolved and schools of music sprung forth around the world.

Albeit the acclaim of many musicians who graduated from these schools, music education does not seem to receive the recognition it deserves. Thus, an organization, the International Society for Music Education, was formed in 1953 in a conference convened by UNESCO. It aims “to stimulate music education as an integral part of general education”. It is now considered to be “a worldwide service platform for music educators” for their works to be recognized. It now has affiliations with national music education organizations of different countries to promote music and teaching to as many people as possible, if not to all.

Music instruction has evolved through time, in tune with the evolution of music. It also has changed, along with the changes of the times, of the people. Somehow, music teachers, of all levels, are now given the commendation they are rightfully due. More importantly, music teaching is slowly but surely winning the respect, it has earned. For what is, the worth of music if it is not taught, hence, shared.

Educators and music teaching experts believe that innovative music teachers resources are indeed effective and beneficial in motivating their students. Most of them even reiterated that these educational resources that include innovative and creative strategies are most appealing and interesting to learners. Their levels of motivation and enthusiasm will surely increase as they get more excited to attend each music class.

Innovative music teachers resources enable the students enjoy each session while learning and acquiring new ideas and skills in music. When technology, internet, use of blogs and online research and communication, as well as innovative musical tools and instruments are incorporated into the learning process, students always look forward to attend and eventually excel in class. Integration of technology into music education has been proven effective and operative over the years – making the teachers and students enjoy each experience.

There have been many different innovative products and services on teaching music made readily available worldwide. Therefore, a music teacher just needs to spot for the most suitable and reliable aid or tool in making your teaching methods more loved and appreciated by students.

Below are some innovative and creative ideas that may be of great help to you, dedicated and inspired music teachers:

• Integrating technology – use of electronic mails, blogs, online research and the likes are strongly encouraged. Thus, maximum supervision and guidance are also advised as these innovative ways may risk the students and somehow expose them in such liberated society.
• Cooperative learning – students working as groups or teams heading towards one goal can bring them closer to building self-confidence and establishing camaraderie. Yet, remember that when integrating cooperative or collaborative learning strategies into a course, careful planning and preparation are essential.
• Hands-on Learning Activities – knowing your students by name gives them a kind of feeling that makes them more special – you taking some effort to memorize and know their names. When you give an activity, try to get closer to each student. Tapping their back and stroking their hair embedded with praises and appreciations as well as kind and motivating words indeed play a vital role. Personalizing your teaching approaches will surely make a great impact on the learning process itself.

The abovementioned strategies will definitely assure such quality of music education to your students as they also give in much of their interest, time and hard work into it – trying to love music more. Music teachers resources like these accredit the future of the learners, which include the adaptability to meet students’ changing learning styles, and create opportunities to develop life-long learning strategies.

So, to all music teachers out there who have devoted and committed their precious time, countless effort and hard works, congratulations; not all can possibly do that. You all deserve such recognition and acknowledgment for putting in your heart into teaching – molding young minds and touching many lives. Cheers!

One such approach is the Kodaly method, which stresses the benefits of physical instruction and response to music. It resides within a fun, educational framework built on a solid grasp of basic music theory and music notation in various verbal and written forms. Trademark methods include the use of solfege hand signals, musical shorthand notation (stick notation) and rhythm solmization (verbalization).

Another is the Orff Schulwerk, which begins with a student’s innate abilities to engage in music, using basic rhythms and melodies. It encourages improvisation and discourages adult pressures and mechanical drills. To accommodate the requirement of the approach, a special group of instruments was developed from modifications of the glockenspiel xylophone, metallophone, drum, and other percussion instruments.

The Suzuki method, meanwhile, uses music education to enrich the lives and moral character of its students by creating the same environment for learning music that a person has for learning their native language. Love, high quality examples, praise, and a timetable set by the student’s developmental readiness for learning a particular technique make up this said environment.

Swiss musician and educator Emile Jaques-Dalcroze also worked out a method divided into three fundamental concepts – the use of solfege, improvisation, and eurhythmics. The last, the method’s trademark, teaches concepts of rhythm, structure and musical expression using movement. It allows the student to gain physical awareness and experience of music through training utilizing all senses, particularly kinesthetic.

Other notable methods include Gordon Music Learning Theory, which provides the music teacher a comprehensive method and resources for teaching musicianship through audiation, the developer Edwin E. Gordon’s term for hearing music in the mind with understanding. Another is Conversational Solfege, which views music as an aural art with a literature based curriculum. The scheme consists of rhythm and tonal patterns and decoding the patterns using syllables and notation.

The Carabo-Cone or Sensory-Motor Approach to Music, on the other hand, involves using props, costumes, and toys for children to learn basic musical concepts of staff, note duration, and the piano keyboard. In Manhattanville Music Curriculum Project (MMCP), meanwhile, students are given freedom to create, perform, improvise, conduct research and investigate different facets of music in a spiral curriculum.

New methods for community music education in urban setting are Applied Groovology and Path Bands. It advocates parents encouraging their children to more freely experience the natural joys of improvised music and dance though “grooving and dandling”. Path Bands, in particular, use improvised multicultural brass bands for active lifelong participation in music.

New methodologies and strategies are sure to arise. These will be welcome addition to the accepted set. Yet, no matter how many choices there exist, any noble music teacher would choose only what he thinks is best.

Whether you teach music in the classroom or in a private music studio, it is still better for you to always change and modify your teaching techniques so as not to bore your students – breaking the monotony and making them more interested and motivated. Losing their interest and enthusiasm to learn music may probably the last thing that music educators and tutors can think about.

Traditional teaching refers to a teacher-centered classroom environment where the music instructors do all the tasks: discussions, lectures, thinking, asking, deciding and many more. The power and the responsibility all lie in the shoulders of the educators themselves. Thus, in today’s teaching and learning environment, the teacher is encouraged to merely facilitate classroom activities and learning sessions as he or she motivates the students to do his/her part and act roles in the learning process.

Music teachers around the globe are determined to improve their ways of getting the attention and interest of their students – making them highly-motivated learners. As they go beyond the boundaries of conventional methods of music teaching, they get through various means of acquiring the latest necessary trends, skills and experiences on music education updates. One great way to achieve this professional development and obtain career success is through the power of the Internet.

With just a few clicks, one can browse, search, download and install music teacher software from reliable music teachers websites without any hassles at all and overspending. Appreciating the convenience of Internet search and easy access, more and more teachers are engaging into this kind of newest technology, getting the most useful and effective music teachers resources for the betterment of their teaching strategies. Such techniques are being acquired globally and applied in many classrooms and music studios out there.

However, the effectiveness of these innovative music teachers resources depend on the appropriateness, availability of resources and the receptiveness of the learners to changes, new trends and interactive activities. Music teachers, who intend to acquire a technique from innovative resources, should always take into consideration their students’ behaviors, characteristics and perceptions. As you take your teaching strategy to the next level, you should also remember several underlying factors that can be affected, altered and influenced by the newly adopted strategy in teaching music to students.

Music teachers resources, which are created to be innovative, interactive and interesting, are also anticipated to bring the students closer to motivation, acquisition and learning respectively – leaving a long-lasting impact. Most of all, teaching with quality and style can be good for your dear students but teaching with your heart into it makes it more rewarding, fulfilling and well-appreciated.

So what are you waiting for? Step out of the box and inspire yourself and others to take a stand and make a difference. Keeping yourself and your fellow teachers abreast with the latest trends and techniques in music teaching can surely jumpstart this endeavor. Let us get in touch with as many music teachers as we can and begin spreading the good news. Happy teaching!

Teaching music seems to be a very rewarding experience; thus, teaching music as well as how to play piano or any musical instruments can be such a challenging task especially if you deal with younger batches of students – toddlers and kids. It is expected that these children might lose focus and determination in whatever they do; they can easily be destructed by many environmental or physiological factors. However, as music educators, we have to get that edge in motivating and encouraging them to stay focused and possess enthusiasm that they need in learning music.

As early as a year or two, music teachers like us, together with the students’ parents, guardians, caregivers and nannies, can extend and lend a helping hand to help the children learn, appreciate and love music in their own little ways. Even in a very early age, children can process, accomplish and generate these three activities: the restoration of the natural human ability – speaking the language of music; the restoration of the natural human disposition to participate in music; and, the evolution of human full capacity to use music for personal expression, development and transformation.

With all these gifts, talents and innate skills that our young can acquire, they can simultaneously learn to integrate and express the music of their culture and tradition, highlighting and empowering the distance between the powers of development and the great wonders of music. Stimulated by their music teachers, parents and guardians, these children will be able to develop their birthright: the basic music competence. Motivated and guided by skilled, dedicated and passionate early childhood music educators, experts and enthusiasts, the musically active child can be at the heart of this renaissance in music education.

Music is indeed a gift and an ear for music is a blessing, a talent that has to be nurtured and shared. Many music and piano teachers nowadays do regard music teaching both as their passion and profession. As they devote much of their time on it and in enhancing their skills on teaching music to children aged two to seven, they need different approaches as well as innovative and interactive tips in piano teaching to make these things both achievable and effective.

Furthermore, as we make effort in meeting the needs of our younger batches of students in teaching piano and music, we also have to always remember that they are still children that have to enjoy their childhood – engaging in many recreational activities that can bring out the best and the kiddiest in them. So, let us enjoy each teaching and learning moment with our students and take each experience to the next level. Happy teaching!

When it comes time for your child to apply to colleges, having a history of music education will improve their chances for admission to their desired school. Music gives kids many advantages.

Music schools are also a great way to expand your own creative world. Many schools accept adult students, and you might find that taking classes at a local school is the perfect way to add some creative spark to your life.

However, finding a good school isn’t always an easy task. Many of these schools do not always advertise like other organizations. How can you find a music school in your community?

Look Online

Doing a search for these types of schools may turn up several great candidates, especially if you live in a metropolitan area. When you’ve found a list of local music schools in your area, do a search for each specific school. You might be surprised by the reviews you find from other parents and students, and this information can help in your decision.

Online searches for these schools have many advantages, but one possible disadvantage is that not all musical schools advertise online or have a web page. It’s becoming increasingly likely that more of these types of schools will have an online presence, but you might miss out on a great one if you limit your research to the Internet.

Check with Your University

Universities and community colleges often offer music programs. Call the music department of your local college and ask if they offer any kind of musical education for children or adults. Often, the educators at these schools are top notch.

If your local college or university does not have a music program available, ask if they can recommend any specific music schools in the area. Since members of the music department staff at these schools have many professional connections, they might be able to offer some great insight on where to look for a great music school.

Ask Your Child’s Teacher for a Recommendation

Your child’s music teacher is a great resource when it comes to finding a music school, especially one that specializes in teaching music to children. If you are looking for music lessons Mississauga for your child, his or her teacher will also have special insight into which type of school might best address your specific needs.

Even if you are looking for a music school for yourself, your child’s music teacher is probably well connected in the music community in your area. He or she may have some great ideas on where you can go for your musical education.

Advantages of a Local Music School

Finding a local music school provides many advantages, including the following:

• A music school that is local means that you spend less time commuting between your home and music school. You can use this extra time to practice your music lessons.
• A local music school also means you save on the price of traveling between the music school and your residence. High fuel costs will not add to the price of your lessons.
• Enrolling in a local music school can provide you with great local social connections.
• When you attend a local music school, you are supporting your local economy and the creative arts scene.