Week 7, Post 2: Rethinking the First Lesson

I thought this was an interesting blog post on how to build upon the motivation and excitement of a new student at their firist lesson.

http://colorinmypiano.com/2011/04/21/rethinking-the-students-first-lesson/#more-3851

Week 7, Post 1: Teaching Improvisation and Composition

As a product of old school traditional training, I find that my personal music making and teaching usually lacks the creativity to explore improvisation or composition with my students.  I am not sure why, but if it's not written out for me on a page, I find it to be quite intimidating.  As a teacher, I think it's important that I foster this creativity in my students so they don't develop the same fears of creating music without a score.

http://musicteacherhub.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/piano-teaching-resources-teaching-music-improvisation-and-composition-from-a-familiar-starting-point/

Week 6, Post 3: I thought this was interesting...

I saw a brief interview with this young performer on the Today Show this morning.  I thought he was quite interesting and could be a way to convey to students that classical music can be edgy and cool.  Dubbed by one of my co-workers as "the male Lady Gaga," this is Hahn-Bin.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/42717917#42717917

Week 6, Post 2: Babies and Music

I am sure we have all seen even the youngest child react to music.  My nephew, Cooper, has a love of dancing.  The lil' guy would dance before he could even stand up, if there was music on  then he was moving to the beat (as much on the beat as an infant could be).  Check out this video, it may be real evidence or it may just be coincidence, but either way it's interesting and cute! 

http://musiccognition.blogspot.com/2010/04/anecdotal-or-real.html

Week 6, Post 1: It's ok to embrace failure

I remember when I first started teaching tath even after nearly 4 years of working in early childhood education, I was still very scared about messing up!!  But I will say in the few years that I have been working, if there is one thing I have learned, it's that the best way to learn is to admit your mistakes and learn how to adjust moving forward. 

http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/lose-the-training-wheels-and-embrace-failure/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SoYouWantToTeach+%28So+You+Want+To+Teach%3F%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Week 5, Post 2: Interesting Survey about Obstacles to Technology in Schools

I thought this survey was quite interesting, they interviewed students, parents, teachers, and administrators in regards to technology use in schools.  The most astonishing fact that I found...  20% of K-2 students said that they own a cell phone!  What?  Read on for more interesting tidbits...

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/what_do_kids_say_is_the_biggest_obstacle_to_techno.php

Week 5, Post 1: Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir

This nealy brought tears to my eyes... perhaps it's just me, but this is an example of technology at it's best.  Check out Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir.

http://www.thomasjwestmusic.com/apps/blog/show/6644903-eric-whitacre-s-virtual-choir-2011-connects-us-in-important-new-ways