What to Have in Your Technique Toolbox

My friend and colleague, LaDona Ahenda has published a comprehensive series on "In the Technique Toolbox". She takes a look at several books and methods, grouped by level.

In the Technique Box (Part 1): Beginner & Elementary

In the Technique Box (Part 2): Intermediate

In the Technique Box (Part 3): Advanced

Are we surprised that most of them are on the Popular Hand Exercises For Piano Book List? Please, tell me that you weren't.

DVD Review - The Music Instinct: Science & Song

"One of the last frontiers is the human brain," said Robert J. Zatorre, neuroscientist at McGill University. "Music serves as a gateway to understanding human cognition." Zatorre and Daniel Levitin teamed up with colleagues from around the world to unravel the secrets of the brain in The Music Instinct: Science & Song.

Also featured in this PBS Network DVD documentary are physicist Brian Greene, neuroscientists Lawrence Parsons and Jamshed Bharucha, archeologists Steven Mithen and Nicholas Conard, ethnomusicologist Kay K. Shelemay, researchers Sheila C. Woodward, Kathleen Wermke and Tom Fritz, psychologist John Sloboda, neurologists Gottfried Schlaug, Oliver Sacks and Tom Cicoria, neurobiologist Aniruddh Patel and author Steven Pinker.

Musicians interviewed include singer Bobby McFerrin, deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie, violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain, conductor/pianist Daniel Barenboim, British rockers Jarvis Cocker and Richard Hawley, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, blind pianist Hwaen Ch'uqi and Lebanese singer Christiane Karam.

Cutting Edge Technology Reveals How Music Affects the Brain

With Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI) and PET technology, scientists can track blood flow and brain activity when subjects are listening to music, improvising, composing and collaborating. This helps them map various areas of the brain that are used.

In The Music Instinct, scientists discovered that the body is a barometer of our musical response to music. When listening to frightening music, our body responds by exhibiting the "flight or fight" response. When we listen to music we like, dopamine, the neurotransmitter for pleasure, is released. A recent discovery is that multiple areas of the brain are involved in processing music.

Music Teaches Us about the Brain, the Brain Teaches Us Music

"If you look at music performance, there's no activity that we do that allows the brain to do so many things at once, with such a complicated coordination and at such depth," said Parsons. His team discovered brain activity is higher when performing in collaboration versus performing solo. Playing an instrument engages the brain more than just listening to music.

"Music - probably one of the most distinctive characteristics of humans," said Mithen, who set out to discover how this compulsion for musicality evolved. He traveled to Germany, where Conard showed him an ivory flute from the Ice Age. The ancient artifacts found seem to indicate that music was as much a part of their life as it is now and that they used a similar scale in their music.

Woodward and Wermke found that babies can hear sound within their mother's womb and that they prefer consonance. Wermke learned that babies cry using melodic intervals, commonly using a perfect fifth, major and minor third and perfect fourth.

Both found that children of deaf parents performed similarly. This is significant as children of deaf parents were subject to less sound stimulation in the womb.

Is Music Universal?

Researchers learned that there are three intervals that are most common worldwide: the perfect fifth, perfect fourth and the perfect octave (the third is next). Ethnomusicologists also found that art music and lullabies from around the world possess common traits.

One interesting study showed the Mafa tribe in Africa. This civilization is far removed from modern technology and Western music. Researchers asked the Mafa to listen to musical excerpts from around the world and identify each as being "happy", "sad" or "scary". Their response was identical to people from Western cultures.

However, Shelemay warns viewers against claims of anything being "universal" in music. "Conceptions vary," she said.

Neurologists and other scientists found that playing music with a strong pulse helps patients with Parkinson's Disease learn to walk again. They also discovered that music helps stroke patients improve their speech and motor skills. Music that mimics the sound of a mother's heartbeat soothes premature babies, while it helps slow down the progress of dementia.

A Well Done Piece that Leaves Viewers with More Questions

Will this take away the mystery of music for you or whet your appetite for more information? Watch it and decide for yourself.

This PBS documentary features an impressive team of scientists and musicians. However, as the team admits, they face challenges and controversies moving forward. Are music and language two sides of the same coin or can they be separated? How much of what we know is learned and how much is "music instinct"? Does music move us or do the memories we attach to a song move us?

To find out more about Daniel Levitin's studies on science and music, visit Why Music Moves Us, Why Do People Sing?, DanielLevitin's website and The Music Instinct on PBS.

If you haven't figured it out yet: goose bumps come from the brain.

Release Date: 2009

Running Time: 120 minutes

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Director: Elena Mannes

Executive Producers: Elena Mannes & Margaret Smilow

Special Features: 12 additional interviews and performances

Where to buy The Music Instinct:

Originally published on Suite101.com on December 19, 2009. Updated April 2, 2013. All rights reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.

Teaching Music Using VARK Learning Preferences

Each person's learning style is unique. Music teachers can teach more effectively with a basic understanding of VARK learning preferences and teaching strategies.

Every student learns differently. Teachers can tailor music lessons to tap into individual learning styles. Photo by woodleywonderworks.

Although there are several learning style models, this article will focus on the VARK Model. VARK defines four learning preferences: Visual, Aural, Read/Write and Kinesthetic.

The Visual Learner

Visual learners learn by seeing. In her August 8, 2008 "Moulding with Modalities" presentation at a piano pedagogy workshop in Calgary, Alberta, clinician Victoria Chow explained that visual learners are good sight readers, favor Impressionistic and Contemporary Classical music, and enjoy music theory and analysis. They are easily distracted by movement and have a weak ear. They prefer written instructions over oral.

The VARK Learning Styles website states that visual learners like to learn through:

• PowerPoint

• Internet

• video

• colorful posters, graphics, diagrams, pictures, flow charts, handouts

• symbols and white space

The Aural Learner

Aural learners learn by listening. Chow said aural learners have a strong musical ear and enjoy listening to music and discussing its style and tone. They like to sing and listen to recordings. Auditory learners think melodically and prefer music with a strong melodic line, such as music by Chopin and Schubert. They are easily distracted by noises.

The VARK Learning Styles website and Amanda-Makenzie Braedyn Svecz's article "Learning Styles - Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic" explain that auditory learners learn by:

• listening to and participating in discussions and tutorials

• listening to interesting examples, stories, jokes

• listening to recordings

• verbal repetition

• giving presentations or speeches

• creating jingles or mnemonics

The Read/Write Learner

According to the VARK website, Read/Write learners learn by:

• reading

• written activities

• closed book tests

• essays

• making lists

• taking notes

I have searched in vain to find pedagogical ideas on how to teach this group music. The ideas that I have listed are a combination of general Read/Write learner traits and study ideas, as well as my own observations and experiences, having worked with several students who are "pure" Read/Write learners.

They prefer to put instructions into their own words or follow step-by-step instructions over oral or visual demonstrations. Those that enjoy reading enjoy sight reading new repertoire while some who prefer writing do exhibit an interest in composition. They tend to prefer to keep their musical score as neat and uncluttered as possible.

The Kinesthetic Learner

Chow described the Kinesthetic learner as one who likes to try things out and cannot sit still. They prefer repertoire with clear chords and enjoy music with chordal harmony such as pieces by Brahms and Schumann.

In Ann Marie Dinkel, RLATG's June 25, 2011 article "Training the Kinesthetic Learner" for ALN Magazine, she recommends hands on activities and discovery projects. "Think “show me.” Demonstrate, diagram, point out, manipulate; encourage the learners to touch, trace, point out, rearrange, build, model, or map a process," she elaborated. She also recommends using flashcards and wet labs, the latter gives students a chance to touch and handle equipment and instruments.

Learning Preference Assessment

It is beneficial to conduct a learning preference assessment prior to incorporating VARK teaching strategies into music lessons. Youth and adult students can complete a printed or online questionnaire available on the VARK Learning Styles website as well as several other sites.

A student may exhibit more than one learning preference. Teachers can employ teaching strategies that engage all the modalities a student is strong in. There are other learning style models, which may provide a more accurate assessment. A brief description of these can be found in Alice Luxton's article "Successful Study Habits for All Learning Styles."

VARK-Related Music Teaching Strategies

Once an assessment has been completed, a music teacher can employ any of the following teaching strategies based on VARK learning preferences:

Visual LearnerMusic Teaching Strategies

• Keep motion distractions to a minimum.

• Give students a clear view of the teacher to watch his/her body language during explanations.

• Use highlighter or highlighter tape on the score to mark patterns, structure and important points.

• New techniques should be demonstrated to show what the desired effect "looks" like.

• Make video recordings of lessons or provide video examples for students to review at home.

• Use charts and pies when teaching concepts such as note values.

• Encourage students to make a drawing to depict their piece to aid in memorization and expression.

Aural LearnerMusic Teaching Strategies

• Students should make audio recordings of their lessons and practices to review at home.

• Keep written instructions by the teacher to a minimum.

• Incorporate verbal analogies.

• Read out instructions and theory questions.

• Minimized noise distractions during lessons.

• Introduce new genres or musical forms by playing audio recordings and engaging the student in a discussion about the various elements of music.

• Use solfège, humming or encourage the student to make lyrics for their piece.

• New techniques should be demonstrated to show what the desired effect "sounds" like.

Read/Write LearnerMusic Teaching Strategies

• Give students one minute to write down an assigned task in his/her own words.

• Assign written projects such as a composer report or writing a story to describe his/her piece.

• Have the student transcribe a piece by hand.

• Write out learning goals and objectives in steps or as a checklist for younger students.

• Incorporate melodic and rhythmic dictation exercises in the lesson.

• New techniques should be demonstrated but students need to read a handout outlining the steps prior to the demonstration or write out the steps for execution in their own words.

Kinesthetic LearnerMusic Teaching Strategies

• Move around the studio frequently during the lesson, e.g., from the instrument to a desk to the floor.

• Encourage students to move around in time to the music during ear training exercises or when listening to a piece.

• Block broken chords when first assigning a piece.

• Encourage students to try their piece in different registers of their instrument, on different instruments or if playing a digital piano - different instrument settings.

• Difficult sections can be taught by by rote.

• When demonstrating a new technique, the teacher can explain what the desired technique "feels" like.

• Ask the student to place his/her hand on top of the teacher's during a demonstration of a technique.

• Demonstrate a finger technique by "playing" on the student's forearm and then ask the student to to try the motion using the teacher's forearm as the piano.

• Use three-dimensional teaching aids such as pie pieces when teaching note values.

Additional strategies can be found in Susan Carney's article "Identifying Students' Learning Styles."

As each person learns differently, music teachers can benefit from using a learning styles assessment tool. Using the VARK Method, a student's primary learning style can be identified as visual, aural, read/write, kinesthetic or multi-modal. By choosing repertoire that engages a student's learning preferences and by employing teaching strategies that complement those preferences, music teachers can capitalize on a students' strengths and build upon their weakness, while music students will find it easier and more enjoyable to study music.

References:

Chase, Gregory. "Keeping the Momentum and Excitement at the Intermediate Level", APTA News, Volume IX no. 3, Spring 2002.

Chow, Victoria. "Moulding with Modalities", Piano Pedagogy Workshop Presentation, Calgary Arts Summer School Association, 2008.

Dinkel, Ann Marie (RLATG). "Training the Kinesthetic Learner", ALN Magazine, 2011.

Originally published on Suite101.com on May 5, 2010. Updated April 18, 2013. All rights reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.

Where to Find Free Piano Music Online

A look at Free Art License, as well as various websites that legally offer free piano sheet music of anime, classical, video game, pop, and rock songs.

Numerous websites offer free sheet music for piano. However, tracking down a suitable arrangement legally sometimes requires a bit of digging.

Free sheet music that is legal falls under the Free Art License, which "grants the right to freely copy, distribute, and transform creative works without infringing the author's rights." Works in the public domain, as well as arrangements and transcriptions posted by the arranger to be downloaded for free fall under this category.

Once the intellectual property rights on a work have expired, they become part of the public domain. These works are copyright-free and can be printed, copied, distributed, and modified.

An arrangement is a music score of a piece that a musician has done by hand or with music notation software. It includes his or her own editorial markings or it is set to a style or instrumentation that differs from the original version.

A transcription is not the same as a reproduction. To make a transcription, a musician picks out the melody and harmonies of a song by ear and then writes out the notation by hand or with the aid of music notation software.

The following are some websites that offer free printable piano sheet music:

Free Anime Sheet Music and Video Game Music Online

Josh's Anime Sheet Music Collection boasts an extensive collection of anime and video game music transcriptions and links to other websites with fan transcriptions. Theme songs from popular anime such as Bleach, Naruto, and K-On! are available. Difficulty level ranges from intermediate to advanced.

Ichigos has one of the largest collections online of free video game and anime sheet music. Theme songs from popular anime such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, The Melancholy of Harurhi Suzumiya, and Clannad, as well as music from popular video games such as The Legend of Zelda, Kingdom Hearts, and Final Fantasy are available.The difficulty level of the sheet music varies from low intermediate to upper intermediate.

Free Classical Sheet Music On the Internet

Music-Scores contains over 500 pieces of classical sheet music. There are arrangements for piano, violin, woodwinds, and more. The site features music by the greats like Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms, and Mozart. The level of difficulty is listed with each piece. Members have access to more music scores than non-members.

The Sheet Music Archive has over 5000 works that are in the public domain. Classical sheet music by famous composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms and Chopin are included in this library. Visitors can download up to two works a day for free. Subscribers have unlimited downloads.

The International Music Score Library Project (IMSP), otherwise known as the Petrucci Music Library, contains an extensive collection of public domain music. Sheet music, as well as recordings are available. It contains over 234, 000 scores and 23, 000 recordings.

Websites With Free Piano Sheet Music in a Variety of Styles

Easy Sheet Music houses around 500 songs for piano. Music is listed in five categories: Music from Around the World, Popular Classics, Boogie & Blues, Opera Classics, and Mission - Not That Difficult. Non-members are limited to three free downloads per day, while subscribers get unlimited downloads.

Free Piano Music! contains approximately 100 pieces of classical, popular, and Christmas songs. The pieces are ordered by level of difficulty, from beginner to intermediate. Midi files are also available for educational purposes.

Sibelius Music - Score Exchange has a wide range of printable sheet music, including classical, Christian, Christmas, historical, jazz, pop/rock, educational, and original works. The site contains music for piano, voice, guitar, strings, and ensembles. Although there are many free music titles, there are some available for purchase.

For further suggestions, read Finding Free Sheet Music and Christian Sheet Music Websites.

Things to Watch Out for When Downloading Free Printable Piano Sheet Music

There are three things to watch out for when searching for free sheet music online: illegal scans of copyrighted scores, poor transcriptions, or editions:

A fan making his or her own transcription or arrangement is legal. However, scanning a copyrighted work is illegal. Musicians should inspect the score carefully. Fuzzy quality is a sign of photocopying or scanning. A transcription is genuine when "Transcribed by" or "Arranged by" is part of the text.

Some music was originally written for an ensemble to be performed by a computer. An anime theme song that requires the right hand to play a chord that spans three octaves is just not "piano friendly." The musician must modify the transcription to avoid musician injury. Music students should consult with their music teacher if they require assistance.

With regards to classical music, it is wise to consult and compare several editions as edition quality varies. Students taking a piano exam should use an edition that is approved by the music conservatory conducting the piano examination.

Downloading an arrangement, transcription, or copyright-free work are three ways to legally obtain free printable piano sheet music. Good transcribers and arrangers are able to make their arrangement "piano friendly." Fans who wish to download free piano sheet music should be cognizant of the difficulty level of the arrangement and look for signs that a transcription is legitimate.

Originally published on Suite101.com on June 16, 2010. Updated April 16, 2013. All rights reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.

Distance Learning Degrees in Music Education

Music teachers can further their education in the comfort of their studio. These six universities offer music educators distance learning opportunities.

Traditionally, music teachers who wished to explore longer professional development opportunities had take a sabbatical to study abroad. For some teachers, traveling abroad for extended periods in the name of career development is not a viable option.

A growing number of universities offer online degrees in music education. These six universities enable music teachers to further their education in the comfort of their own studio, with minimal disruption to their household and teaching schedules.

Master of Music in Music Education at the Boston University

Founded in 1839 as the Newbury Biblical Institute, Boston University now boasts an enrollment of over 32,000 students. BU is the first university in American history to confer university degrees in music.

Boston University’s School of Music offers an online Master of Music, Music Education. In this 17–20 month program, students explore a diverse curriculum, including analytical techniques, jazz and popular arranging and the philosophy and history of music education.

Master of Music in Music Education From Duquesne University

Located in Pittsburgh, PA, Duquesne University was founded in 1878 by the Order of the Holy Spirit. Duquesne is a private, coeducational Catholic college with an enrollment of over 10,000 students.

DU’s Mary Pappert School of Music offers a three and four-year Master of Music: Major in Music Education. The program incorporates online studies as well as courses that must be taken on campus. Students explore a variety of areas, including the foundations of music education, creativity in school music programs, Alexander Technique for musicians and music education research.

The school also offers a Master of Music in Music Technology program. Students will study Digital Music Pedagogy, Electronic Composition and Electronic Performance.

Master of Arts – Music Education Degree at the University of Hawaii-Manoa

The University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu, HI was established in 1907 and now boasts an enrollment of over 20,000. The university offers a two-year Master of Arts Music Education Degree that can be taken locally or through distance learning.

Applicants should hold a Bachelor of Education (or comparable degree) and be teaching in a public or private school. Students will explore a wide range of topics, including major issues in music education, research in music education, using the Internet and the psychology of music.

Graduate Certificate in Music Technology at the University of Newcastle

The University of Newcastle in Australia was founded in 1965 and has over 30,000 students. It has earned a solid reputation for its accomplishments in making higher education accessible to the disadvantaged, as well as research and teaching innovations. The University earned seven Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council.

The University of Newcastle offers a Graduate Certificate in Music Technology. Students explore several applications of music technology, including MIDI and sequencing techniques, musical scoring techniques, digital media, sound engineering and computer assisted instruction.

Certificates of Piano Pedagogy and Piano Pedagogy Research at the University of Ottawa

The University of Ottawa in Canada is the largest bilingual university in North America. It was founded in 1848 and now has an enrollment of over 40,000 students.

UOttawa offers an Undergraduate Certificate in Piano Pedagogy and a Graduate Certificate in Piano Pedagogy Research. Like Duquesne University, UOttawa incorporates distance learning and on-campus learning components. Students explore a wide range of pedagogical topics, including an analysis of various piano method books, musician health and injuries and music education research.

MA Psychology for Musicians/MA Music Psychology in Education at the University of Sheffield

The University of Sheffield is among the top universities in the UK, according to "RAE 2008: results for UK universities" from The Guardian (December 18, 2008). It was founded in 1828 and now reports an enrollment of over 24,000 students. Five Nobel prizewinners lead its list of illustrious alumni.

The MA Psychology for Musicians/MA Music Psychology in Education was launched in 1997. Students study diverse aspects of music education and psychology, including the psychology of performance, music research and musical development. This part-time, online degree can be completed within two years.

Music teachers can develop their skills through online courses and distance learning degrees. Masters programs in music research, piano pedagogy, music technology and music psychology are just some of the areas that music educators can explore from the comfort of their own studio.

Originally published on Suite101.com on July 23, 2010. Winner of an Editor's Choice Award for Music Education on Suite101.com. Updated March 24, 2013. All rights reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.