020 - Asking the Right Kinds of Questions
As teachers, we ask a lot of questions.
What’s the first note?
What’s your hand position?
Which finger plays the black key?
What kind of note do we sing in m. 8?
Are these notes stepping or skipping?
But, did you know there are different kinds of questions (or ways of asking questions) that can actually promote learning?
A good question does more than assess student learning or mastery of a concept; it can actually foster a deeper level of understanding, open space for productive dialogue, and promote self-reflection.
019 - The Benefits of Rote Learning & How to Use It in Your Teaching
When we learn something by rote, we start by listening, then experiencing it ourselves — imitating what we see or hear, listening again, and repeating it until we can do it on our own.
Today, I want to talk about why rote learning is important and three of the primary benefits of rote learning in music education, and offer some practical, step-by-step techniques for incorporating rote-learning into your teaching approach.
018 - This is What an Elementary Piano Buddy Lesson Looks Like
At the beginning of this year, I had a buddy lesson with 2nd grader, Samantha and 1st grader, Colby. Both students started with me about 9 months ago. They are halfway through the Faber Piano Adventures Primer book and we’re also working through the second book in the Wunderkeys Primer series by Andrea Dow for skill and concept reinforcement and some supplemental repertoire and games.
Today, I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes peek into one of our buddy lessons this spring—these are notes straight from my teaching journal.
017 - How to Channel Your Inner Child and See the World Differently
I love working with five-year-olds.
I love their creativity, their fearlessness, their willingness to try new things, their crazy imaginations, and the way they make everything silly and fun.
Of course, we were all five once. But it’s all too easy to forget what that sense of wonder feels like, to be curious and inquisitive, to ask questions and seek out the answers, to try something you’ve never tried before. Today, I’m sharing eight ways to channel your inner child and see the world differently.
016 - 7 Unconventional Approaches to Starting the New School Year
Most years, the beginning of the new school year feels fresh and exciting. Everything is new and bright and full of possibility.
This year, in the midst of a global pandemic, things feel a little different.
As such, here are a few unconventional ways to prepare for the new school year ahead.
015 - The Unexpected Benefits of Teaching Online
I've spent the last 12 weeks teaching solely online: innovating and adapting and learning new technologies, meeting my students in their homes, navigating this new virtual world together, and finding ways to keep making music through it all. Today, I want to share my observations and reflections on this season, this new paradigm in music education, and the benefits I've discovered.
014 - What Will You Learn This Summer?
One of the things I love about summer is the slower pace: the invitation to create a new routine, a new rhythm, the opportunity to learn and work and rest at my own pace. And despite a global pandemic and public health crisis, that hasn’t changed. Looking for a few ideas for how to spend your time this summer? Here are a few things to explore:
013 - The Nuts and Bolts of Writing Your Own Curriculum
Your curriculum is a basic framework for all the teaching and learning you hope will take place this year. It’s important to be just as intentional with the overall plans and goals for your year as you are with your week-to-week interactions with your students. Today, I’m going to show you how to write your very own curriculum, tailor-made to fit your students.
012 - How to Develop Musicianship Skills in Those You Teach
Musicianship is the skills you have as a musician: things like listening, singing, playing, creating, performing. It’s also the ability to “think in sound,” or audiate. But how do you teach these skills? Here are 10 practical things you can do to develop musicianship in those you teach, week by week, all throughout the year.
011 - Zig Zag: The Surprising Path to Greater Creativity
In his book, Zig Zag: The Surprising Path to Greater Creativity, Keith Sawyer outlines 8 stages of the creative process but rather than following a clear and direct path forward, starting here and ending there, the path to greater creativity has more zigs and zags; it’s unpredictable, erratic, and yes, surprising. Here are my three biggest takeaways from this book:
I'm Ashley—musician, educator, writer, and entrepreneur. Here, I share creative ideas and practical resources to help you in your teaching and creative work. Learn more...
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