Publication date:
08 September 2011Length of book:
216 pagesPublisher
Rowman & Littlefield PublishersISBN-13: 9781442209459
Introduction to Effective Music Teaching: Artistry and Attitude provides the prospective teacher with front-line tested strategies and approaches that are based on current research and the author's three decades of service as a public school music educator, department chairman, and public school district music administrator. Starting with a brief overview of the history of music education in public schools, Alfred Townsend gives the reader a deeper understanding of the importance of music education to all students, gifted or not. Readers then examine artistry (command of content and mastery of methods) and the ABCs of teacher attitude, the critical component that unlocks learning for many students. With an open and accessible writing style, Dr. Townsend reviews the six components of effective teaching, showing that artistry and attitude can be combined to fuel student learning and teacher leadership. Using all of this information, the reader constructs a personal, practical philosophy of music teaching and learning that will form the basis for his or her instruction. Readers will also experience artistry and attitude in action through well-written case studies of effective teachers. With increasingly diverse student populations teachers now face, this book provides music teachers with ways to interact effectively with students of all backgrounds, attitudes, and talent.
Townsend (Old Dominion Univ.) has skillfully analyzed the needed elements for teaching music. He emphasizes the artistry and attitude of music leaders through the use of case studies, thus introducing the reader to the foundations of research and history necessary for effectiveness and mastery of content as well as providing real-life situations in music education settings. Nancy Klein (also Old Dominion) collaborates with the author on the important topic of leadership. Highlights of the book include charts and checklists (such as 'ABCs of Attitude'), interviews with a variety of musicians, bibliographic notes and resources, and excellent end-of-chapter reflection, discussion, and assignments. Townsend takes a practical approach to contemporary teaching strategies. Although intended as a classroom textbook, this book would be a useful addition to any collection supporting study of the teaching of music. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and graduate students.