Piano Playground: Games, Movement, and Group Activities for Piano Instruction

This book combines the research into effective music teaching from Dr. Lindsay's graduate studies with her creativity in the application of those effective music teaching methods. The term that summarizes her educational philosophy is "Edu-tainment." Having worked for the Walt Disney Corporation and Old Indiana Fun Park, Dr. Lindsay has a good grasp of what engages students. Her goal is to use whatever resources are available to make her teaching stimulating-yet-always-informative. Throughout her classes and lessons, she intersperses the use of video, role-playing, anecdotes, examples, humor, references to popular music and movies, discussion, student performances, eurhythmic exercises, caricatures, costuming, and Orff exercises to make her class sessions memorable and vivid.

To be an effective piano teacher, one must utilize techniques that teachers use in other musical settings, like choirs, orchestras, and other private lessons. According to research, there are three major elements that make an effective teacher (Blocher, Greenwood, & Shellahamer, 1997; Dunn, 1997; and Madsen, 1990). The first element is "teacher presentation." This includes the information being presented, and the manner in which it is presented. The second element is "student activity." Many studies have shown that, when students are actively engaged in a lesson, they are more attentive, have better attitudes, and achieve more. The third and final element includes complete teaching patterns, and ultimately feedback.

This book uses research in conjunction with resource activity sheets. Essentially, remember that you are a performer. You are writer, director, producer, and actor. You write the lesson plans, guide students through the lesson, prepare the materials and classroom, and must demonstrate appropriate behaviors and attitudes. Sometimes the director must tell the actors exactly what facial expressions and movements to make. S/he may need to demonstrate as well. Your class is like a movie production. Sometimes, it is a one-person show with audience participation. Sometimes it is a "cast of thousands." All activities in this book are written with a movie theme. Each activity sheet contains a "Spotlight," "Props & Set Design," " Story Board," "Encore," "Important Plot Points," "Behind the Scenes," and "The Script." There is also a reminder, "Don't Forget! Lights, camera [This is presentation] Action [This is the activity and student response] Applause" [This is (approval) feedback]. Some of the activities also have a "Re-makes" and "Credits" section.