Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 41
reading the phrase and therefore is “tuned out” to the sound. Maybe the student has not been exposed to basic thoughts on phrase shaping—getting louder in the ascent; directing the phrase over the barline, etc. Or perhaps it is the most basic problem of all—they do not know how to listen to themselves. The teacher must be willing to consider all of these possibilities. Perhaps it will take some experimentation with the student to find the answer. But, I believe it begins with the teacher looking deeper than the surface. A more basic example is the elementary student who struggles with reading. Does the student understand the basic concept of interval? Can the student read, draw, play, and identify different intervals? Does the student have a process for reading, or is he overwhelmed with memorizing note names? Perhaps there is a visual problem at play? Maybe it is a problem relating to poor practice habits? It always comes back to the teacher’s ability to not be distracted by what is immediately at hand, but to see the underlying cause of the problem. How can a teacher learn this? I have often assumed that the answer is “experience.” But I now believe it is much more than that. It comes from knowing the material being taught beyond what appears on the page, whether it is a Beethoven Sonata
or a primer level lesson book. If the teacher does not have a clear concept of the Beethoven sonata movement at hand, the communication about it will have less impact. Likewise, if the teacher does not really understand the process for reading presented in the beginning student’s lesson book, the student will have a less secure grasp of the musical language. I continue to believe that the best way to learn how to teach is to teach beginners. It is at this first level that one must confront every aspect of music as if it is brand new. The teacher has to deconstruct the musical language into the basic concepts and figure out how to lead explorations into each of them with the student. The teacher must know what is coming next in the process and has to prepare the way. The lesson plan must go beyond reading what is on the method book’s page. It must craft experiences that are relevant to the basic concepts of musical understanding. When teachers can boil things down for themselves, they can do it for their students. The result is effective communication and the beginning of musical literacy and expression.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012
CLAVIER COMPANION
41
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clavier Companion - January/February 2012
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012
Contents
Editor's Page: New discoveries
Variations: Tackling a twelve-year old's slump
Musings: Creative being and the disciplined life
An interview with Jean-Yves Thibaudet
The story of music on board the RMS Titanic
The enchanted world of piano fairy tales
Jazz & Pop: The rhythms of jazz: Syncopation
Music Reading: Recipes for effective teaching
Perspectives: Coping with burnout
Technology: Virtual reality in the piano studio
Tech Tips
First Looks: What Music Means To Me
New music reviews
CD & DVD reviews
News & Notes
Pupil Saver
Keyboard Kids' Companion
Advertiser Index
Questions & Answers
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - Clavier Companion - January/February 2012
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - Cover2
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - Contents
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 2
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 3
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - Editor's Page: New discoveries
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 5
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - Variations: Tackling a twelve-year old's slump
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 7
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - Musings: Creative being and the disciplined life
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 9
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - An interview with Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 11
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 12
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 13
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 14
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 15
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 16
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 17
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - The story of music on board the RMS Titanic
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 19
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 20
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 21
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 22
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 23
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 24
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 25
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 26
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 27
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 28
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 29
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - The enchanted world of piano fairy tales
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 31
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 32
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 33
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 34
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 35
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - Jazz & Pop: The rhythms of jazz: Syncopation
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 37
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - Music Reading: Recipes for effective teaching
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 39
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 40
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 41
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - Perspectives: Coping with burnout
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 43
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 44
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 45
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - Technology: Virtual reality in the piano studio
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - Tech Tips
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 48
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 49
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - New music reviews
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 51
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 52
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 53
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - CD & DVD reviews
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 55
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - News & Notes
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - Pupil Saver
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 58
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 59
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - Keyboard Kids' Companion
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 61
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - Advertiser Index
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - 63
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - Questions & Answers
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - Cover3
Clavier Companion - January/February 2012 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_migrateacct
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20161112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20130708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20130506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_methodreview
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20130102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20121112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20120910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20120708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20120506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20111112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20110910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20110708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20110506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/companion_20110304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/clavier/test
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com