Music & Arts | Sound Teaching | October 2018

October 2018

SOUNDTEACHING NEWSLETTER FOR LESSON TEACHERS @ MUSIC & ARTS

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Shaping a Listening Ear

Balancing Private Lesson Studies with School Repertoire

3 Keys to Rely on as a Private Lesson Instructor

Inside the Lesson Studio

Shaping a Listening Ear

BY C AT H E R I N E A L L E N , D M A , P I A N O / V O I C E I N S T R U C T O R I N T U C S O N , A Z

that they, too, seek to shape sound with

For singers, the art of listening is

sensitivity and artistry.

somewhat elusive. A singer is both artist and instrument. She cannot

Of the three learning modalities (visual,

play her instrument by touch, for it is

auditory, and kinesthetic), the auditory

largely within her. She cannot hear her

is the most essential to a musician. After

instrument as others hear it, because she

all, expressing the human experience

is within it. Breath flow and the shaping

through sound is the artistic goal.

of resonators take the place of touch. A

Ideally, all three modalities work in

singer listens to herself by interpreting

tandem toward that goal, with the ear

indirect sound and subtle sensations.

leading the way.

Nature is a wonderful resource for

“Ear it!” my voice professor at The Boston Conservatory would exclaim

The auditory is not always the preferred

sensitizing the ear, with its complex

when a student was out of tune or

learning style, even for professional

palette of sounds (the delicate

otherwise committed a “sound”

musicians. Because of the musical

pointillism of falling snow, the mournful

transgression. With a turn of the head,

literacy required to interpret a score,

wail of a loon), and the way in which,

he would simultaneously bring his ear

the visual may take precedence. The

like music, it connects on a primal level

forward to illustrate. Through words

technical requirements of learning to

with the human spirit. While teaching

and gesture, he painted a vivid picture

play an instrument can also detract from

music at a school near the Jersey shore,

of an invisible art—the art of listening.

listening. Beginning and intermediate

I accompanied students (many of whom

Asking students to listen directs their

players are especially prone to these

studied with me privately) on field trips

attention to the qualities of their sound.

imbalances. The ears “tune out.” One

to the ocean to lead them in sound

At the same time, there is something

hears, but does not listen. Sound

activities. One of their favorites was

about pinpointing the ear as the locus

becomes a by-product of playing rather

to close their eyes, listen for the next

of hearing that awakens, expands and

than its ultimate aim. The foundation for

breaking wave and immediately point in

refines its musical sensibilities.

focused listening should begin early.

the direction of the crash. This lesson in focused listening was great fun for them,

Sound has the power to reach through

How, then, do we shape the ear of the

and demonstrated building to a musical

the listener’s ear to their heart. The

student? This depends to a large extent

climax.

invisible nature of sound may even

on the educator’s teaching philosophy

enhance its access to the unseen realm

as well as the student’s gifts and

Since living in Arizona, I have arranged

of the human soul. As musicians, we

learning style. Just as studying a piece

outings for my students with a local

are shapers of sound. We participate

of music is a cyclical process, from

organization. Activities vary from

with the composer in creating a musical

engaging with the material, to gaining

identifying animals from a recording

landscape that communicates with the

knowledge, to applying knowledge,

prior to a desert hike, to silently

listener. As music teachers, we are also

etc., learning to listen effectively is

watching and listening to nature—the

shapers of sound, for a major aspect

also cyclical. Creating experiences and

whir of an insect in flight, tall grasses

of our role is to shape the ears of our

offering feedback are ways in which

rustling in a gentle wind, etc. Each

students as well as their “hands”—to

teachers can support students during

student has a notebook in which to

cultivate the love and art of listening so

this process.

record their impressions. This living

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soundscape of micro-textures enriches

the trajectory of a six-year-old boy

primarily visual, however, ear training

the children’s aural sensibilities

who began studying with me at the

may be marginalized. One option is

and expands their understanding of

age of four. He loves to create music

to attach ear training to the concepts

instrumentation and timbre. Inspired by

at the piano, so that is how we begin

learned in the theory books of a given

natural sounds and settings, students

each lesson. Without my guidance,

method series. It can also be taught

compose thoughtful and creative works

these compositions have grown from

as a separate, sequential curriculum,

on their instruments.

short improvisations to wide-ranging

allowing the ear to develop more fully

explorations featuring complex textures

and at its own pace. The art of listening

Hearing is often defined as the ability

and colors, creative use of thematic

applies to many different facets of

to perceive sounds, and listening as the

material, expressive dynamics and

music—dynamics, articulation, style,

purposeful process of deriving meaning

an organic sense of flow—all ear-

color, balance (between the hands of a

from sound. Each is invaluable, and

driven. I mentioned to his mother that

pianist, for example, or when playing

the two share a symbiotic co-existence.

his improvisations were jazz-like in

in an ensemble), harmony, melody,

The subconscious gains information by

their evolution, and she replied that

expression, structure, acoustics,

hearing, making connections through

she often plays recordings of jazz

intonation, etc. Shaping the ears of

its developing vocabulary of sounds.

and classical music. Just as children

students deepens their musicality and

The conscious mind draws on this

develop linguistically by hearing spoken

sets the aural imagination free.

repository to create meaning, further

language in the home, hearing music

contextualizing sound and informing

in his home, coupled with his own

I recently watched the video of a mother

the subconscious, and on it goes.

creativity, has given my young student a

holding her infant son who, having been

sophisticated vocabulary of sounds and

born deaf, had just received implants

musical concepts from which to draw.

that would enable him to hear. The video

Parents and educators have great influence on the cultivation of the ear

captured his first sound experience—

of students. Parents influence them

While improvisation allows for

his mother’s voice. Overcome with

by providing music lessons, creating

immediacy in playing and creating,

emotion, his face curled and tears began

a supportive musical culture at home,

the language of music has its own

to flow as he gazed up at her. He clearly

and taking them to live, quality

grammar and syntax, which take time

grasped that it was her voice he was

performances. Educators influence

and effort to learn. Just as mastering

hearing for the first time. In a narrow

them by shaping the curriculum of the

a language involves speaking and

sense, perhaps this scene serves as a

student. For example, although I do

understanding the spoken word as

metaphor for our role as educators—to

not teach the Suzuki method per se, I

well as reading and writing, so too

connect with our students, seek ways to

have my students learn Suzuki pieces

should a music student learn fluency

open their ears to the world of sound,

sequentially by ear.

in hearing and reproducing the sounds

and create experiences that engage their

associated with the written music. The

imaginations and reveal the expressive

One example of the synergistic

education of the ear is a priority when

power of music.

dynamic that can exist between music

using the Suzuki method or learning

at home and music in the studio is

to play jazz. In methods that are

C A T H E R I N E A L L E N , D M A , is a piano and voice instructor at Music & Arts in Tucson, AZ. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance from the University of Arizona, her Masters from the New England Conservatory, and her Bachelor’s in French from Wellesley College. Her formal studies in voice and voice therapy began with noted singing teacher and voice therapist David Blair McClosky at The Boston Conservatory of Music, where she received a certificate in Voice Therapy. Upon completion of her doctorate, Catherine traveled to Paris on the Mary Elvira Stevens Travel Grant to study with a coach at the Paris Opera. While in Paris she also performed, taught voice and piano privately and at the American School of Paris, and gave seminars in speech and presentation. Catherine received first prize in the European Council of Toastmasters competition for speech evaluation.

October 2018 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | 3

Balancing Private Lesson Studies with School Repertoire B Y PAT R I C I A S WA R T L E Y, C L A R I N E T I N S T R U C T O R I N W E B S T E R , T X

These students were choses based

Our job as teachers is to address issues

on ability, hard work and dedication.

that hinder progress, yet sometimes

They already had a good start on the

there are problems that cannot be

clarinet and all I had time to cover

corrected and we must make the best of

was preparation of their band music.

it. If a student can make the change and

I despaired at not being able to teach

then see the difference in their playing,

classic clarinet repertoire. Furthermore,

it makes a big impact. However, some

students who needed the most help were

students will not be able to make the

not placed on my schedule.

change. I used to be hard on myself if I could not correct a problem; experience

Private teachers at Music & Arts who

has taught me patience and acceptance.

have band students can probably relate Playing the clarinet, and later teaching

this type of teaching situation. At Music

The rewards of teaching is to hear the

it, has been an important part of my life

& Arts, I can spend time with a student

stories of your students who are making

since I was 13 years old. Despite taking

on their band music while also adding

progress in their school band, move

time off because of moves or giving

“real” instructional music. Additionally,

to first chair, or get a “most improved

birth, I always came back to playing and

I am able to spend time on teaching

player” award at their school. These

teaching the clarinet.

the student good playing habits and

moments make it worth the struggle. I

techniques.

have a teacher friend who just retired

Many of my teaching years were in

because she no longer enjoys teaching; I

public and private school systems

In the studio, a student who started

and am now teaching privately. This

poorly on the clarinet takes a delicate

experience helps me understand how

touch. It is the hardest part of teaching.

to help the private student who is also

The balance is to change the bad habit

playing under their band director.

and increase their successes without

am not there yet!

nagging. Keeping a relaxed, matter of As an in-school teacher, I was often

fact and positive attitude works best.

frustrated with band directors who set

Use phrases like, “let’s try it this way to

the tone and direction of my teaching.

reach the lowest note” instead of “If you

Lessons were taught in school buildings

keep holding the clarinet like that, you’ll

and I was often given a list of students

never be able to play the lowest notes!”

who would take lessons from me.

P A T R I C I A S W A R T L E Y has taught at Music & Arts since 2012. A graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelor degree in Music Education and a former Middle School band director; Pat settled on a career path of teaching clarinet privately for most of her adult life. However, in 2014 she accepted an invitation to conduct a homeschool band program for the Bay Area Performing Arts Co-op in the Houston, Texas area and has referred many of her band students to Music & Arts private teachers.

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M&A Now Sells Yamaha Clavinova Digital Pianos Music & Arts now offers the Yamaha Clavinova line of digital pianos! Yamaha Clavinova digital pianos feature everything we love about a grand piano in a digital piano perfect for the home. Yamaha’s unique “Damper Response Pedal” and “Virtual Resonance Modeling” reproduce the resonance characteristics and tonal quality of an acoustic piano. The keyboard escapement and counterweights provide the feel and playability of a grand piano. Lesson students could receive a maximum discount of 10% off.

For Lesson teacher pricing, please speak with a store employee.

CLP625 Console Digital Piano with Bench (Rosewood) •

Item # 1333831

•

$1999.99 MAP

CLP635 Console Digital Piano with Bench (Rosewood) •

Item # 1333870

•

$2699.99 MAP

CLP645 Console Digital Piano with Bench (Matte Black) •

Item # 1333821

•

$3499.99 MAP

Clavinova pianos are currently sold online and in select stores (Hagerstown, MD, Charlottesville, VA, Cary, NC, and Durham, NC). We will be looking for new Clavinova retail locations as we expand in 2019.

October 2018 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | 5

3 Keys to Rely on as a Private Lesson Instructor

BY TOM YOUNG, TRUMPET INSTRUCTOR IN REYNOLDSBURG, OH

support my students when they perform

the process to achieve this goal, with

with their school bands and at solo &

heavy emphasis on correct playing

ensemble contests. By doing this, I get

fundamentals. I promote taking the

to know the students and their families

student at their current level, with a non-

at a personal level.

judgmental attitude, stressing weekly improvement. Flexibility is important

Parent Involvement: I always take a

and if a student needs help with music

moment after the lesson to talk to the

from their school band, we may deviate

parents, keeping them informed as

from the current plan to help the student

to what we have worked on. This is

master this music.

Many musical and personal experiences,

especially crucial for beginners trying

through the years, shaped my role as

to establish good habits. I explain the

I ask myself before every lesson what I

a private lesson instructor. As a public

concepts to parents, and enlist their help

can do to help the student improve as a

high school band director for 35 years,

at home. I ask them to watch for things

musician and as a leader for their school

I was always very appreciative of the

like correct breathing, not puffing out

band. I feel it is necessary to accept the

private lesson teachers, who taught my

cheeks, etc. With the parents engaged,

differences in our students, and plan

students, giving them skills that helped

I see much more support at home and

for their musical growth. We all have

them in their school bands. Three keys

faster improvement from the students.

instances where a student’s progress

I rely on as a lesson instructor are a

As a band director, I felt badly when

may slip, but it is important to remain

caring attitude, parent involvement and

I had students with little parental

calm, keep focused, and work hard to

setting goals.

involvement. There were students who,

get back on track. My ultimate goal at

the only time I saw their parents was at

the end of the day is to foster a love for

Caring Attitude: “Students do not care

a football game where the students were

music and encourage students to stay

how much you know, until they know

honored as seniors. With private lesson

involved for a lifetime.

how much you care”. This quote comes

students, we have parents who are more

from Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser whom I had

invested with their kids, and I foster this

the opportunity to work with throughout

situation to the best of my abilities.

my career. This concept was my guiding principle as a band director, and now as

Setting Goals: All my new students

a private lesson instructor.

fill out a form discussing their musical experiences and goals. I customize

No matter how my day is going, I try to

instruction based on a blend of their

be upbeat when greeting each student

goals, playing fundamentals, and

and throughout their lesson. I believe

what they will need to be a well-

it is important to show a genuine

rounded musician. For instance, if a

interest in the students. Our topics of

student states that he wants to play

conversation will range from music,

the “screamer” trumpet parts in his

hobbies, sports, or school. I also like to

school marching band, we discuss

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T O M Y O U N G teaches trumpet at the Reynoldsburg, Ohio store.

He has a BME from Bowling Green State University and a MM from VanderCook College of Music. He retired after 35 years of teaching in Ohio. In addition to teaching lessons, he performs in several big bands in Central and Eastern Ohio. He also judges marching band, solo & ensemble, and concert bands for the Ohio Music Education Association, and travels the US with high school music groups as a tour director for Music Travel Consultants.

Inside the Lesson Studio

BY H A N N A H B E S T, M & A H U M A N R E S O U R C E S M A N A G E R - L E S S O N T E A C H E R S

Q: “I noticed that Music & Arts is

creating a profile so my bio will be

A: “Each time a customer leaves a

opening many new locations. What is

on the store’s website. I’ve never

review about any location (regarding

the best place to see the locations as

noticed anyone doing this before. Are

lessons or anything else), the District

they’re being added?”

we required to have our bio on the

Manager and Customer Service receives

website?”

an email. This means we’re able to see

A: “The best place to keep track of the

any feedback immediately. We then

added stores is on our website at www.

A: “We’re in the middle of auditing

follow up with the customer and ensure

musicarts.com. We often have press

the bios on our website so that we can

that their comments are reviewed for

releases for new locations that can be

ensure each teacher is represented

performance. For lesson reviews, the

found with a Google search too.”

online for the Lesson Studio at Music

lessons team also receives an email so

& Arts. Less than half of our teachers

we’re aware of the customer feedback by

Q: “How does Music & Arts let students

have a bio and that means that less than

location.

know about holidays that the store is

half of our teachers can be selected by

closed?”

excited students for lessons. The goal

The most positive reviews we’ve

here is to show all of the teacher options

received about lessons have been

A: “We put this information in a few

available to students. In other words,

teacher specific. Students write how

places so that we can ensure that

create more visibility. This will also help

much they love their lesson or their

students know what dates the store is

you to obtain more students on your

teacher.

closed.

schedule.

The negative reviews we’ve received

The first place we notify the student

You’re not required to have a bio on our

about lessons typically happen if a

is on the customer’s receipt when the

website, but it’s highly encouraged to

teacher is late to their lesson. It’s the

student registers for lessons. Then, we

help students see that you’re a teacher at

number one item that is consistent from

put this information on a magnet inside

Music & Arts.”

customers about lessons when they’re

the New Student Welcome Kit, the

negative.

folder students are given at their first

Q: “When students leave reviews about

lesson.”

the stores on the internet, how is that

Overall, we’re committed to taking

feedback managed?”

student feedback seriously and

Q: “I recently received an email from

address every review both positive and

someone in your home office about

negative.”

Roland iPad Mini Offer Roland is offering a free (refurbished) iPad Mini with a purchase of either a Roland RP-102 or RP-501R digital piano! If you or one of your students is interested in this offer, please talk with a store associate.

This offer ends on December 31, 2018.

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