Video: Navigating the Course
Introduction: Welcome and Course Outline
Course Content
Summary of Objectives
Welcome and Course Outline (Transcript, PDF)
Course Syllabus: The Beginner Course: Establishing Strong Foundations for Young Pianists
Welcome Survey
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
Reflection Activity
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)
Reflection Activity
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
Reflection Activity
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
Reflection Activity
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
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 4: "Tick-Tock Blues" with Scott Donald
Video Performance 5: "Holidays" with Amy Glennon
Video Performance 6: "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)
Reflection Activity
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
Reflection Activity
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
Reflection Activity
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)
Exit Survey