How to teach listening skills

I have collection of old piano pedagogy books, one dating around 1900. A common thread throughout these books is the observation that many students can’t hear themselves, or others.

 

It is my contention that a student can’t play what they can’t hear. A teacher can’t teach what they can’t hear either. So, I’ve collected up a series of ideas from various sources.

• Have a listening practice. Play a recording, or demonstrate yourself. Afterwards ask the student questions on tempi, dynamics, articulations, etc. Compare different recordings of the same piece. Teach the student to hear the difference. The depth of inquiry depends on the development of the student
• Give out the list of genres given a few weeks ago and invite the older students to youtube.com the list. A wonderful discovery.
• Give a mock student demonstration and ask the student to critique the performance. This is particularly fun for younger students.
• Record and playback a student performance in your studio.
• Teach them to play with a metronome. Start easy, on scales: one note per click.
• Teach them some of the lessons outlined in the book, “The music lesson”by Victor L. Wooten. A priceless gem @$12.00
• Improvise together
• Teach them to pick out tunes by ear. Start with Jingle Bells
• Organise a jazz, new music, Renaissance music field trip. Meet the musicians afterwards.
• Introduce the kids to composition through Frances Balodis Young composer books.
• Teach ear training from the get-go: intervals, chords, dynamics, articulations, etc.

 All the best to everyone in 2010

 

David