Teaching Notes - MTA Podcast - Ep.101 - Liz Dunbar, Nate Holder, Sam Leak
Jun 6, 2024
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Liz Dunbar shares her pioneering online subscription resource, Music Department Resources, designed to aid music educators with flexible materials. Nate Holder discusses the exciting 2024 Why Music Festival, aiming to inspire young musicians and promote music education. Jazz pianist Sam Leak dives into the teachability of perfect pitch and melody triggers, revealing insights from his research on aural awareness and exploring effective teaching techniques for developing students' musical skills.
Liz Dunbar's new online resource offers essential teaching materials aimed at supporting music educators, particularly those in isolated settings.
The upcoming 2024 Why Music Festival is poised to be a significant event, promoting the importance of music education in the community.
Sam Leak's insights into teaching perfect pitch highlight diverse methodologies, stressing the balance between melody triggers and a deeper understanding of music.
Deep dives
The Importance of Breaks in Music Education
The summer break serves as a crucial opportunity for teachers in music education to recharge and reflect. After an intense period of teaching, these breaks not only provide rest but also allow educators to regroup and recalibrate their teaching strategies. The podcast emphasizes that breaks are essential for maintaining the passion and energy required in the profession. This period is seen as a chance to rejuvenate before diving back into the demands of the next academic year.
Innovation in Music Teaching Resources
The introduction of a new resource website offers substantial support for teachers, particularly those in one-person departments. The emphasis is on sharing valuable teaching materials and easing the burden on educators who may lack access to adequate resources. This platform allows teachers to adapt and utilize tools specifically designed to optimize classroom experiences and enhance student learning. The website includes a variety of teaching materials, including homework resources and engaging playlists tailored for different curriculum levels.
Challenges in Creating Effective Cover Lessons
Writing engaging cover lessons in music education poses significant challenges due to the intricacies of the subject. The podcast highlights that effective cover lessons require a serious investment of time and creativity, often leading to additional stress for teachers. It notes the frustration educators face when insufficient or uninspiring cover materials hinder the learning experience for students. By collaborating with experienced cover managers, the initiative aims to design cover lessons that maintain student engagement and ensure meaningful musical learning even in a teacher's absence.
Exploring Perfect Pitch and Teaching Methods
Perfect pitch, often considered a rare skill, raises questions about its teachability and cultural significance in music education. The podcast discusses perspectives on whether individuals can learn perfect pitch and how different cultures approach this skill, particularly in Japan. The Yamaha method, which incorporates a systematic approach to teaching perfect pitch to young children, is highlighted as an effective strategy using solfège. This discussion generates interest in exploring various methodologies and their outcomes in fostering musical skills in students.
The Role of Melody Triggers in Music Education
The concept of melody triggers is introduced as a method to assist students in recognizing specific pitches through familiar melodies. This educational tool aims to help learners connect musical intervals with well-known tunes, thereby reinforcing their auditory skills. However, the podcast discusses how reliance on such triggers may oversimplify music learning, suggesting that a deeper understanding of tonal context is crucial. The conversation encourages a balanced approach that combines both absolute and relative pitch training techniques for comprehensive musical development.
In Episode 101, Patrick finds out all about Liz Dunbar’s incredible new online subscription resource, Music Department Resources, packed with complete schemes of work, cover lessons, and much, much more (01:13).
Nate Holder introduces the 2024 Why Music Festival, to be held on 25th and 27th June 2024 (19:43).
And jazz pianist, teacher and university lecturer Sam Leak discusses perfect pitch, absolute pitch and melody triggers: whether these can be taught or are just natural gifts, and different approaches to teaching aural awareness to students (23:01).
