What the Effective Music Theory Instructors Do

2020 ◽  
pp. 289-294
Author(s):  
Jennifer Snodgrass

Why should we learn from some of the most effective music theory instructors? Their years of teaching have challenged each to embrace new ideas, to rethink curricula and course outlines, and to better engage with the student populations in the 21st century. There are 10 characteristics that all effective teachers seem to share, but the most important is that they understand their “why,” and they question themselves regularly in order to better their classrooms and scholarship. They realize the importance of their role as a guide in the classroom and strive to create a safe environment for their students, a classroom full of questions and self-discovery, where students understand relationships and the meaning of why aural skills and music theory are essential skills for the complete musician.

2020 ◽  
pp. 15-49
Author(s):  
Jennifer Snodgrass

Administrators and faculty around the country are working together to examine teaching approaches that better meet the needs of the 21st-century music student. These conversations have led to many institutions redesigning their curriculum. However, before any specific curricular decisions are made, the question of “why” changes are needed should be addressed and discussed. Based on several research studies, there are new trends in topics that are taught in both music theory and aural skills, and the ordering of material and the pace vary between institutions. There is no one-size-fits-all curriculum, and it is up to administrators and faculty to better understand the curriculum design that best fits the needs of individual students in their program.


Author(s):  
Jennifer Snodgrass

Many innovative approaches to teaching are being used around the country, and there is an exciting energy about the scholarship of teaching and learning. But what is happening in the most effective music theory and aural skills classrooms? Based on 3 years of field study spanning 17 states, coupled with reflections from the author’s own teaching strategies, Teaching Music Theory: New Voices and Approaches highlights teaching approaches with substantial real-life examples from instructors across the country. The main premise of the text focuses on the question of “why.” Why do we assess in a particular way? Why are our curricula designed in a certain manner? Why should students master aural skills for their career as a performer, music educator, or music therapist? It is through the experiences shared in the text that many of these questions of “why” are answered. Along with answering some of the important questions of “why,” the book emphasizes topics such as classroom environment, undergraduate research and mentoring, assessment, and approaches to curriculum development. Teaching Music Theory: New Voices and Approaches is written in a conversational tone to provide a starting point of dialogue for students, new faculty members, and seasoned educators on any level. The pedagogical trends presented in this book provide a greater appreciation of outstanding teaching and thus an understanding of successful approaches in the classroom.


2021 ◽  
pp. 104837132110344
Author(s):  
Jason Fick ◽  
Chris Bulgren

Increased availability of tablets at home and in classrooms provides educators access to a powerful tool for music instruction. Music production lessons on tablets offer alternate approaches to developing music literacies while teaching valuable technology skills. These activities are ideal for general music education because they align with contemporary music practices and are adaptable to a variety of learning environments (in person, remote, and hybrid). This article will present a model for tablet-based music production instruction in the general music classroom that aligns with the National Core Arts Standards and accompanying process components grounded in five essential skills: sequencing, recording, editing, effects processing, and mixing.


2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 7-26
Author(s):  
Rimma I. Sokolova

The article discusses such a new phenomenon of modernity as the rehabilitation of utopia, which has not yet become widespread, but it is a serious symptom of the crisis of civilization in Russia and in the West. It is shown that attempts to rehabilitate utopia are associated with the situation of crisis, uncertainty, unpredictability caused by the ongoing transformations of the modern epoch. Under these conditions, the utopia is not only a reflection of the existing situation but also an opportunity for the formation of new ideas and the reduction of uncertainty. Many astute researchers in both the West and Russia demonstrate a positive attitude towards utopia, as they see the opportunities offered by utopia, especially in times of crisis. It is noted that in Russia there is a gradual overcoming of the negative attitude to utopia, which was associated with the collapsed socialist system. A summary history of utopia shows that utopia is a significant factor in history that accompanies the development of mankind throughout history. Despite this, in the earlier decades of the 20th century and the beginning of 21st century the “death of utopia” was declared, it was driven by ideological and political reasons and by globalization in general. Meanwhile, at present its importance is again actualized in relation to the complex international situation. Therefore, both in the West and in Russia there is a growing demand for the ideal concepts of the future of human existence in the form of utopia.


Author(s):  
Patrick McMakin ◽  
Jennifer Snodgrass

This chapter discusses the music theory and aural skills practiced daily by an important and influential segment of the public: the session musicians, engineers, songwriters, and producers in the recording studios and publishing houses of Nashville’s Music Row. Through interviews with leading engineers and studio musicians, the chapter reveals that particular kinds of music theoretical knowledge and aural skills are valued in these contexts. Efficiency and accuracy are prized during recording sessions, and there are high expectations for the fluid and immediate application of practical knowledge and skills to writing, recording, producing, and performing music. While some in these situations have had formal, academic training in music theory, that is not true of everyone. Some terminology from academic music theory is valuable, but there is also the need for additional terminology and systems in order to develop a common language for all participants. This chapter provides detailed information about an important aspect of this common language, the Nashville Number System, a musical shorthand developed within the studios of Music Row that now has currency among musicians around the world, bringing music theory to an ever-expanding public.


Author(s):  
Rachel Ronke Ojo

Leadership is an integral aspect of successful organisations including libraries. Helping librarians to acquire leadership skills in order to adroitly navigate libraries through 21st century changes and challenges of the information environment is crucial. INELI (International Network for Emerging Library Innovators) was birthed globally as an initiative of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to provide young leaders in public libraries across the world the opportunities to connect, learn, and explore new ideas and services that can transform their communities. INELI Sub-Saharan Africa (INELI-SSAf), an offshoot of the initiative for African public librarians, is a leadership training program with the primary objectives of exposing participants to concepts and practices about innovative information services in current times and assisting them to create within and across border networks for peer leaning. The topics taught include time management, advocacy, data management, smart risks, and innovations in libraries. (INELI SSAf is run by African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA)).


2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-100

Paney, A.S. & Buonviri, N.O. (2013). Teaching Melodic Dictation in Advanced Placement Music Theory. Journal of Research in Music Education, 61(4), 396–414. (Original DOI: 10.1177/0022429413508411 ) This article was published with an abstract containing errors made by the publisher during the production process. The abstract should read: In this study approaches to teaching melodic dictation skills used by Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory teachers were examined. Twelve high school teachers from four states were interviewed. Four themes emerged from the interview transcripts: cognitive frameworks, processing strategies, rhythm, and course design. Participants generally confirmed established understandings of aural skills pedagogy, particularly in areas of pattern instruction, connecting aural and written theory, connecting sight-singing and dictation, incorporating scale degree function, targeting melodic “bookends,” focusing on the big picture, sequencing curricula, and incorporating familiar melodies. Unique to the findings of this study were participants’ positive attitudes toward a standardized test and their concern for the students’ psychological barriers inherent in learning aural skills. A general indifference to rhythm counting systems and a common acknowledgment of students’ difficulties with rhythmic notation also were found. Recommendations for further research include a large-scale survey of melodic dictation strategies taught by AP Music Theory teachers, empirical investigation of the efficacy of specific counting systems, comparison of students’ reported dictation strategies and their success with dictation on the AP exam, and exploration of the influence of psychological fortitude on the dictation process.


Author(s):  
Marina MIHĂILĂ ◽  
Mihaela CIOLACHE ◽  
Raluca PEȘTIȘANU ◽  
Andra GIUGLEA ◽  
Mara VASILE ◽  
...  

Main ideas on which the project proposal is based are : 1. producing a peer production collaborative open access data base for contemporary architecture; 2. proposing a structural visualization method and several modes of mapping and linking information and relevant images; 3. founding and defining a young generation of architectural projects-buildings; 4. gathering an advanced discussion for future architectural design; 5. fabricating new ideas, finding meaning and tendencies through short writings and discussions. Proposed method is to structure the ideas in a singular concept together with revisiting, reediting and rewriting the team’s manifesto Restarting Avant-garde for specific declaration of ideas, making from the specific proposed project an active instrument for a future cultural Bucharest. In few words, the team members declaration is to connect and reconnect with the School of Architecture / Faculty of Architecture UAUIM Bucharest, to contribute together and on common principles, militate for, activate and enrolling 21st century architecture to European new setups. The project proposal includes also the architects enrolling and contributing through their own projects to mapping a guide of 21st century Bucharest. keywords: contemporary architecture, Bucharest, cultural capital, 21st century architecture guide.


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