The above is an interesting interview which largely explains how children could learn music more efficiently. The interview was recently conducted by co-founder of the Forte Music schools Ms Gillian Erskine with Dr Robyn Staveley, a senior lecturer in the School of Teacher Education at UTS (University of Technology Sydney) where she teaches Music, Movement and Dance Education and Educational Psychology. Dr Staveley had recently completed her PHD in the how cognitive neuroscience impacts learning in music. This in turn would have a bearing on how we could strive towards a best practice approach

in our music teaching practice.

According to Dr Staveley, children learn music most efficiently through a "unified system" and a "multi modal approach". The different components of learning activities - ear training via singing and building aural memory via movements and singing, playing ensemble pieces/collaborative learning, rhythm activities, on the spot improvisation or composition are all part of what she calls "brain friendly" or brain efficient to enable the learning to take place. These different spheres of learning are more likely to fit the meaningful whole picture of what the music should sound like ("musicality"). A "brain friendly" way of learning results in a more effective and positive outcome. The sense of achievement within a shorter time frame would in turn encourage the children to stick with music lessons for a much longer term. Learning the traditional way of reading and playing would usually take a longer time before they sense they can play something and this sometimes can put the students off persevering in their music lesson journey and saying 'it is too hard" and therefore quit! This is a real shame when they quit so early in their journey before they achieve any independent learning ability.

We are very pleased Dr Staveley had remarked that what we do in our music classes seem to tick all the boxes of being “brain efficient / friendly” !! Do check out the interview!

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