Course No. 3 – Practical Application of Modern Study Materials and Teaching Aids in Piano Teaching
This course is based on pedagogical and performance seminars and piano playing methodology, which are combined with the possibility of individual study of solo piano playing, accompaniment and improvisation, and consultations of the students’ performances in solo and chamber music. The education therefore takes place on three levels: 1. acquisition of knowledge, 2. practical orientation and skills in their application, 3. individual verification of the acquired knowledge and experience in the actual study of piano playing and in the teaching of pupils.
Methodology: the lectures cover and reflect the following topics and facts: in the last decade, a number of new high-quality piano schools and collections of instructional pieces have been created with a specific focus, for example, on preschool children, on exploring musical literature at the piano, on developing the student’s creativity through improvisation, on working with urtext editions of compositions, on playing jazz and entertainment music. New instructional compositions and materials have been created to ensure the practical application of pupils’ theoretical knowledge in the study of piano compositions. The number and specific focus of piano competitions have expanded, e.g. in low age categories, in four-hand playing, etc., about which it is not enough to provide information, it is also necessary to help to use them effectively in the work of teachers.
Other topics of the course Methodology:
An individual and balanced way of choosing repertoire for the pupils of ZUŠ. Work on composition and optimization of cooperation with parents in creating correct habits of effective practice; performance as a means of emotional self-expression, communication and joyful creation and perception of music by pupils.
Methodological procedures in working on the composition, comparison of outdated and modern approaches. The importance of composition analysis.
Basic types of piano technique. The importance of technical exercises and ways of working with them.
The possibilities of the child’s hand. Solving technical difficulties – finding the causes of problems.
Pedagogy and its methodology from the initial teaching.
Study of piano etudes. The most frequently used etude collections for beginners and advanced players, specifics of working on an etude with a beginner.
Working with song from the beginning of teaching at the elementary level. Methodology of teaching improvisation, improvisation of accompaniment, playing according to chord markers, etc. Czech and foreign materials.
Repertoire and method of work in teaching four-hand playing. (scope: 60 hours)
Pedagogical-psychological aspects of the piano teacher and pupil today:
Based on theoretical knowledge and practical examples, the aim is to contribute to a deeper awareness of the importance of the role of the teacher in the present day and a closer understanding of the personality of the pupil.
The course deals with the pedagogical and psychological aspects of the two basic factors of piano teaching – the piano teacher and the pupil – in the context of the 21st century. It examines the position and role of the teacher, the teacher’s motivation to teach and the immediate pedagogical process and style of teaching. Selected piano teachers and their pedagogical and human legacy are introduced.
The pupil is characterized on the basis of his/her development. With regard to the pupil’s level of musical ability and skill with respect to piano playing, the possibilities for effective, meaningful and enjoyable piano learning at each age are mentioned. Other factors such as specific learning difficulties, among others, are also taken into account.
The course is based on a combination of two principles:
- Presentation of selected topics
- Active participation of the audience in the teaching – guided discussion (scope: 20 hours)
Pedagogical and interpretive seminars: provide practical examples of the use of new tools that significantly affect the quality of the teaching process. Their use is facilitated both by information about their existence, and by learning about them and acquiring the skills to make or change them according to the needs and age of the pupils, or by mastering how to work with modern digital recording technology (audio and video recorders, multimedia programs on PCs, cameras, etc.A wide range of information is provided to help teachers to navigate the Internet and to use recordings from personal and school archives in a way that allows them to focus their self-education on the specific needs of individuals.
Since many of these tools and modern information come from abroad, it is important to teach teachers how to work with specialized professional journals, special instructional audio and visual materials, etc. The course instructors themselves translate or provide translations of important professional texts for easier application in practice.
Another feature of the seminars is the contact of the participants with contemporary composers and performers, whose opinions and advice provide an opportunity to update their previous professional education. Also, meeting with our own and foreign university piano teachers is a source of new perspectives on teaching.
Course participants can take advantage of the opportunity to perform their selected students at concerts in the JAMU auditorium, which are recorded, analyzed and archived. The concerts have a thematic focus, either to prepare for specific national or international piano competitions, or to perform works of a particular style period, genre, composer, or age group of pupils.
It includes an analysis of the performance or a video recording of the performance. The performance is assessed in terms of understanding the semantics of the author, the prevailing aesthetics of the style and the appropriateness of the chosen technical means of interpretation. The confrontation of the opinions of the trainees and their confrontation with the opinions of the teachers objectifies the evaluation of the performance, brings a clear response to the trainees and the performer and thus determines the further direction of their work.
Fellows are introduced to current knowledge in the field, analyzing the work of top pedagogical figures (live or via recording). Practical introduction of fellows to new notation materials and aids, especially for elementary piano pedagogy. Audio recordings of instructional literature. Analysis of performance recordings from piano competitions. Space for discussion and formulation of opinions on topics chosen by the participants, e.g., pedaling methodology, articulation, four-hand playing, etc.
Special space in this course is devoted to piano improvisation and its methodology for elementary art schools.
The seminars also include discussions and mutual exchange of experiences in interest groups, the largest of which is a group of teachers who specialize in teaching preschool children and a group working with children with mild brain dysfunctions or with disabled pupils.
Special assistance is provided to teachers with severe visual impairment and in cooperation with the Council of Visually Impaired Music Teachers, which works at the United Organization of the Blind and Visually Impaired (SONS), the possibilities of acquiring music materials and adapting new teaching aids for visually impaired teachers are consulted. (scope: 60 hours)
Conditions for obtaining a Certificate of Completion
The certificate of completion of the course is linked to the attendance recorded on the attendance sheets and a written report from each attendee, which includes his/her statement on the contribution of the course to his/her work and a specification of the pedagogical results achieved. The Certificate will indicate the subjects of collective and individual teaching that the trainee has completed.