Welcome Survey

Discussion Forum Instructions

Discussion Forum: Introduction and Questions

Session Contents

Reading 1: "Finding the Center" by Pete Jutras

Reading 2: "How do we define 'success' in piano study?" by Sam Holland

Reading 3: "The Power of One" by Marvin Blickenstaff

Discussion Forum Introduction: The Role of the Teacher

Discussion Forum Question 1

Discussion Forum Question 2

Discussion Forum Question 3

Session Resources

Session Contents

Video Lecture: "How Children Learn" with Marvin Blickenstaff, Part 1 - Introduction

Video Lecture, Part 2: Discovery

Video Lecture, Part 3: Large Staff Demonstration

Video Lecture, Part 4: Exaggeration

Video Lecture, Part 5: Accurate Repetition

Video Lecture, Part 6: Modeling

Video Lecture, Part 7: Creativity

Video Lecture, Part 8: Correct First Experiences

Video Lecture, Part 9: Goal Setting

Video Lecture, Part 10: Independent study

Video Lecture, Part 11: Honest Affirmation

Transcript: "How Children Learn" by Marvin Blickenstaff (PDF)

Reading: "What Does Research Tell Us About the Learning Process?" by Rebecca Johnson and Suzanne Schons

Session Resources

Session Contents

Video and photo: Small Child with Sara Ernst

Video and photo: Larger Child with Sara Ernst

Video: Posture Chant with Diana Dumlavwalla

Video: Correction Game with Diana Dumlavwalla

Reading: "Hand Position Basics" by Nancy Bachus

Quiz on Posture and Position

Session Resources

Session Contents

Video Lecture: "Understanding & Guiding Children's Musical Development" with Dr. Sara Ernst and Dr. Wendy Valerio, Part 1

Video Lecture, Part 2: Stages of Musical Development

Video Lecture, Part 3: Building Blocks of Musical Skill

Video Lecture, Part 4: Structure of Activities

Transcript: "Understanding & Guiding Children's Musical Development" with Dr. Sara Ernst and Dr. Wendy Valerio(PDF)

Reading: "Beyond the Keys" by Edwin Gordon

Video Demonstration: Audiation Games, Part 1 with Dr. Sara Ernst and Dr. Wendy Valerio

Video Demonstration: Audiation Games, Part 2

Video Demonstration: Audiation Games, Part 3

Video Demonstration: Audiation Games, Part 4

Video Demonstration: Audiation Games, Part 5

Transcript: Audiation Games (PDF)

References for the Video Lecture and Demonstrations

Quiz on Musical Skills and Development

Session Resources and Related Material

Session Contents

Reading: "Parents Attending Lessons: Rewards and Challenges" by Diane Briscoe

Reading: "Why Should My Child Take Piano Lessons?" by Sam Holland (PDF)

Discussion Forum Introduction: The Role of the Parents

Discussion Scenario 1

Discussion Scenario 2

Discussion Scenario 3

Discussion Scenario 4 (optional)

Session Resources

Session Contents

Video Lecture: "Concept Preparation" with Craig Sale, Part 1

Video Lecture, Part 2

Video Lecture, Part 3

Video Lecture, Part 4

Handouts: "Concept Preparation" by Craig Sale (PDF)

Transcript: "Concept Preparation" by Craig Sale (PDF)

Video Demonstration 1: Eighth Notes with Amy Glennon

Video Demonstration 2: Sharps and Flats with Sara Ernst

Video Demonstration 3: Scale Preparation with Steven Brundage

Discussion Forum Introduction: Concept Preparation

Discussion Forum Question 1

Discussion Forum Question 2

Discussion Forum Question 3

Session Resources

Session Contents

Reading 1: "Nature Is a Model Teacher" by Richard Chronister

Reading 2: "I’ve Got It! Planning for Mastery in the Piano Lesson" by Dr. Sara Ernst

Video Demonstration 1: Rhythm with Sara Ernst

Video Demonstration 2: Sight Reading with Sara Ernst

Video Demonstration 3: Dictation with Sara Ernst

Video Demonstration 4: 12-Bar Blues Improvisation with Scott Donald

Video Demonstration 5: "Half and Heavy" Practice Drills with Steven Brundage

Video Demonstration 6: "Fast and Fluent" Practice Drills with Steven Brundage

Video Demonstration 7: Self-assessment with Sara Ernst

Music Featured in Teaching Demonstrations

Session Resources

Session Content

Reading: "To Play and To Study, the Thrill of Discovery" by Sara Ernst

Video Demonstration 1: Discovering Intervals on the Staff with Sara Ernst

Video Demonstration 2: Half Steps and Sharps with Amy Glennon

Video Demonstration 3: Playing Thirds with Amy Glennon

Video Demonstration 4: Note Accuracy and Hand Position with Janet Hart

Music Featured in Teaching Demonstrations

Session Resources

Session Content

Reading 1: "What are your guidelines for assigning a new piece?" by Frances Clark

Reading 2: "Consider the Sound First" by Scott Donald

Reading 3: "The Role of Rote Teaching in the Development of Reading, Technique, and Artistry" by Katherine Fisher and Julie Knerr

Session Resources

Session Content

Reading: "Four Strategies for Introducing Repertoire" by Dr. Sara Ernst

Video Demonstration 1: Rote and Rote-Notation with Dr. Lesley McAllister

Video Demonstration 2: Workout, Complete with Sara Ernst

Video Demonstration 3: Workout, Complete with Rebecca Mergen Pennington

Video Demonstration 4: Workout, Partial with Janet Hart, Week 1

Video Demonstration 5: Workout, Partial with Janet Hart, Week 2

Video Demonstration 6: Play-Discuss with Amy Glennon

Music Featured in Teaching Demonstrations

Session Content

Reading 1: "Four Principles of Teaching Beginning Technique" by Dr. Samuel Holland

Reading 2: "Developing Technical Skills via Exercises Apart from Pieces" by Elvina Truman Pearce

Reading 3: "In the Beginning" by Marvin Blickenstaff

Reading 4: "How Do You Teach Choreography to Young Students?" by Marilyn Taggart

Discussion Forum Introduction: Technique for Beginners

Discussion Forum Question 1

Discussion Forum Question 2

Discussion Forum Question 3

Discussion Forum Question 4

Discussion Forum Question 5

Session Resources

Session Content

Video Lecture: "Teaching Beginners How to Read Music" with Dr. Sara Ernst, Part 1

Video Lecture, Part 2

Video Lecture, Part 3

Video Lecture, Part 4

Video Lecture, Part 5

Video Lecture, Part 6

Video Lecture, Part 7

Video Lecture, Part 8

Video Lecture, Part 9

Video Lecture, Part 10

Video Lecture, Part 11

Video Lecture, Part 12

Video Lecture, Part 13

Video Lecture, Part 14

Transcript: "Teaching Beginners How to Read Music" by Dr. Sara Ernst (PDF)

Video Demonstration 1: Landmarks Introduction with Rebecca Mergen Pennington

Video Demonstration 2: Landmarks Treble G, Middle C, Bass F with Sara Ernst

Video Demonstration 3: Landmarks High G and Low F with Sara Ernst

Reading 1: "Making Sense Out of What We Read" by Dr. Andrew Hisey

Reading 2: "Off-staff Notation" by Dr. Meg Gray

Reading 3: "Make 'Off-staff' Serve 'On-staff' as Soon as Possible" by Dr. Sophia Gilmson

Reading 4: "Using Songs to Teach Musical Concepts" by Amy Glennon

Music Featured in Teaching Demonstrations

Quiz on Music Reading

Session Resources

Session Content

Video Demonstration 1: Sound Modeling with Dr. Todd Van Kekerix

Video Demonstration 2: Score Study with Dr. Sara Ernst

Video Demonstration 3: Tempo Modeling and Score Study with Marvin Blickenstaff

Video Demonstration 4: Technique and Touch with Dr. Sara Ernst

Video Demonstration 5: Technique and Gesture with Amy Glennon

Video Demonstration 6: Singing and Modeling with Dr. Scott Donald

Video Demonstration 7: Singing and Drawing Phrases with Allison Shinnick

Reading 1: "Singing Through Your Instrument From the Very First Lesson" by Dr. Scott Donald and Dr. Klondike Steadman

Reading 2: "Teaching Artistic Phrasing" by Marvin Blickenstaff

Music Featured in Teaching Demonstrations

Discussion Forum Introduction: Expressive Playing

Discussion Scenario 1

Discussion Scenario 2

Discussion Scenario 3

Discussion Scenario 4

Discussion Scenario 5

Session Resources

Session Content

Video Lecture: "Rhythm and Movement" with Dr. Lesley McAllister, Part 1

Video Lecture: Part 2

Video Lecture: Part 3

Video Lecture: Part 4

Video Lecture: Part 5

Video Lecture: Part 6

Video Lecture: Part 7

Video Lecture: Part 8

Video Lecture: Part 9

Video Lecture: Part 10

Video Lecture: Part 11

Video Lecture: Part 12

Video Lecture: Part 13

Transcript: "Rhythm and Movement" by Dr. Lesley McAllister (PDF)

Video Demonstration 1: Steady Pulse with Dr. Diana Dumlavwalla

Video Demonstration 2: Ball Passing with Angela Triandafillou

Video Demonstration 3: Meter with Inflection with Dr. Rebecca Pennington

Video Demonstration 4: Meter Comparisons with Angela Triandafillou

Video Demonstration 5: Compound Meter with Amy Glennon

Music Featured in Teaching Demonstrations

Quiz on Rhythm and Movement

Session Content

Video Lecture: "Improvisation for the Beginning Pianist" with Dr. Scott Price, Part 1

Video Lecture: Part 2

Video Lecture: Part 3

Video Lecture: Part 4

Lecture by Scott Price (Transcript, PDF)

Video Demonstration 1: Black Key Single-Finger Improvisation with Scott Price

Video Demonstration 2: Two-Handed Black Key Improvisation with Scott Price

Video Demonstration 3: White Key Improvisation with Scott Price

Video Demonstration 4: Question and Answer 1 with Scott Price

Video Demonstration 5: Question and Answer 2 with Scott Price

Video Demonstration 6: Question and Answer 3 with Scott Price

Video Demonstration 7: Free Improvisation with Scott Price

Video Demonstration 8: Improvised Canon with Scott Price

Video Demonstration 9: Two-Handed White Key Improvisation with Scott Price

Reading: "Steps to Teaching Improvisation" by Bradley Sowash

Reading (optional): "Music Together: Creativity in Preparation for the Book" by Dr. Scott Price

Quiz on Improvisation Videos

Session Resources

Session Content

Video Performance 1: Landscape - Raindrops

Video Performance 2: Landscape - The Ocean

Video Performance 3: Landscape - Geese on the Pond

Video Performance 4: Landscape - Mountains

Video Performance 5: Spring - Bees Pollinate

Video Performance 6: Spring - Flowers in the Spring

Quiz on Composition Videos

Reading: "Student Benefits from Learning To Compose and Improvise" by Nicole Martens

Session Resources

Session Content

Video Lecture: "Pedagogical Strategies for Teacher-Student Duets" with Dr. Diana Dumlavwalla, Part 1

Video Lecture: Part 2

Video Lecture: Part 3

Video Lecture: Part 4

Video Lecture: Part 5

Video Lecture: Part 6

Video Lecture: Part 7

Video Lecture: Part 8

Transcript: "Pedagogical Strategies for Teacher-Student Duets" by Diana Dumlavwalla (PDF)

Video Demonstration: Performance Preparation Guidelines - "Hill and Gully Rider" with Diana Dumlavwalla

Video Performance 1: "This Land is Your Land," with Angela Triandafillou

Video Performance 2: "Square Dance" with Rebecca Mergen Pennington and Student Teacher

Video Performance 3: "Copy Cat" with Steven Brundage

Video Performance: "Tick-Tock Blues" with Scott Donald

Video Performance: "Holidays" with Amy Glennon

Video Performance: "Graduation March" and "Crocodile in the Nile" with Sara Ernst

Beginner's Music Featured in Duet Videos

Quiz on Exemplary Performance

Session Content

Audio Interview: "The First Recital: A Podcast Interview with Amy Glennon and Rebecca Mergen Pennington" with Sara Ernst

Transcript: "The First Recital: A Podcast Interview with Amy Glennon and Rebecca Mergen Pennington" by Sara Ernst (PDF)

Discussion Forum Introduction: Exemplary Performance

Discussion Forum: Statement 1

Discussion Forum: Statement 2

Discussion Forum: Statement 3

Discussion Forum: Statement 4

Discussion Forum: Statement 5

Discussion Forum: Pros and Cons

Session Content

Reading 1: "Complete Musicianship and Lesson Planning" by Louise Goss

Reading 2: "Putting It All Together: Creating a Great Lesson" by Steven Rosenfeld

Reading 3: "Planning for Short and Long Term Success" by Arlene Steffen

Sample Lesson Plan for Beginner (with reflective text) by Todd Van Kekerix

Sample Assignment Sheet for Beginner by Todd Van Kekerix

Session Resources

Session Content

Video 1: 30-Minute Lesson with Rebecca Mergen Pennington, Part 1

Video 2: 30-Minute Lesson with Rebecca Mergen Pennington, Part 2

Lesson Plan by Rebecca Mergen Pennington

Assignment Sheet by Rebecca Mergen Pennington

Video 3: 45-Minute Lesson with Sara Ernst, Part 1

Video 4: 45-Minute Lesson with Sara Ernst, Part 2

Lesson Plan by Sara Ernst

Assignment Sheet by Sara Ernst

Session Content

Video 1: Demonstration of Rote Piece by Sara Ernst

Video 2: Demonstration of Practice Steps by Sara Ernst

Video 3: Composition Assignment by Sara Ernst

Video 4: Five-finger Warm-up by Sara Ernst

Video 5: "Drop-lift" Warm-up by Sara Ernst

Reading 1: "The Home Practice Environment" by Richard Chronister

Reading 2: "'Time Spent' vs. 'Mind Spent'" by Elvina Truman Pearce

Reading 3: "Practice Steps for Successful, Independent Learning" by Angela Triandafillou

Reading 4: "Playing Through a Piece Is Not Practice" by Richard Chronister

Reading 5: "What Do You Do in the Lesson When the Student Has Not Practiced?" by Craig Sale

Handout 1: Practice Steps Level Primer by Angela Triandafillou

Handout 2: Practice Steps Early Elementary by Angela Triandafillou

Handout 3: Practice Steps Elementary and Late Elementary by Angela Triandafillou

Discussion Forum Introduction: Preparing Home Practice

Discussion Forum Question 1

Discussion Forum Question 2

Discussion Forum Question 3

Discussion Forum Question 4 (optional)

Session Content

Holidays by Jon George and Bingo from Music Tree 1

Video Demonstration 1: "Holidays" with Scott Donald, Week 1

Video Demonstration 2: "Holidays" with Scott Donald, Week 2

Video Demonstration 3: "Holidays" with Scott Donald, Week 3

Video Demonstration 4: "Holidays" with Scott Donald, Week 4

Video Demonstration 5: "Bingo" with Janet Hart, Week 1

Video Demonstration 6: "Bingo" with Janet Hart, Week 2

Video Demonstration 7: "Bingo" with Janet Hart, Week 3

Video Demonstration 8: "Bingo" with Janet Hart, Week 4

Video: Course Conclusion with Dr. Sara Ernst

Transcript: Course Conclusion (PDF)

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