The Singing Piano

These sessions will focus on essential piano teaching methods for teachers to create life-long learners of piano students ages ten years and up. This session is beneficial for classroom piano teachers and private piano teachers. The Singing Piano focuses on the development of Individual Musicianship and piano skills, including those necessary for music reading and writing. This workshop explores areas of beat, rhythm, visual notation, texture, melody, and harmony found in piano music that facilitate student creativity, exploration, and improvisation. An introduction to aural/oral learning and vocalizing is also provided. These skills lay the foundation for years of meaningful piano playing.

Music Literacy in the Choral Classroom

This session is most helpful for school teachers and school districts needing to align curricula with state music standards. Research-based information is provided regarding brain development, audiation, and music literacy. Music teachers in elementary through high school will benefit from this sound-before-sight process that reduces stress while increasing rigor. Tools to enhance student learning in all areas of musicianship, especially the ability for students to interpret music notation, tonal patterns, rhythm patterns, and harmonic patterns is specifically addressed. Finally, using formative assessments these teaching strategies are documented giving validity and data for teaching collaborations.

Solfege for Instrumentalists

The value of including tonal solfege in music learning for singers has long been understood. How to apply solfege and the accompanying learning process for instrumentalists is less common. This session explores the benefits, tools, and application of learning processes through tonal and rhythm solfege. Concerns regarding auditory development, aural/oral discrimination, music literacy, and instrumental technique are addressed specifically. Teachers trying to "reach the next level" or feeling like "something is missing" often find this session extremely helpful. Yes, singing is included.