Improving studio music teaching through understanding learning styles

Abstract

The role of a studio music teacher is a delicate balance of creativity and organization. In a one-on-one setting a teacher must guide a student through the physical challenges of playing an instrument as well as conveying the abstract notions of music and aesthetics. The goal of guiding a student into becoming a fine musician is universal, but teaching approaches differ. In this article I propose using learning style models as a teaching framework. The use of learning style models in the classroom is not a new idea, but the music lesson provides a unique setting for the assessment and implementation of these models. By identifying a student's dominant learning style, a teacher can more effectively develop an individualized pedagogical approach for each student. The models can be used to organize a teacher's curriculum as well as provide a framework for new and creative teaching ideas.