Hannah Contardi

9/21/2020
Duke - What to Teach

Knowledge and skills play an important role in setting course objectives. Declarative and

procedural knowledge are both categories of competence one should consider when it comes to

teaching. Knowing something, and just knowing how to do something are both very different

from explaining how exactly you know how to do what you are doing. Oftentimes, music

education classes will lack any specifics when stating a goal. This means that students will focus

on getting through the song without improving certain skill sets, such as tone or dynamics. This

leads to the idea that “learning/knowing a piece” simply means knowing the notes and rhythms,

when really it should reflect a greater understanding of what the piece is about. It is important to

offer a “what” goal and a “how” goal in order to expand students’ understanding of what exactly

a piece of music is. This also allows students to practice and improve certain skills. The goal is

not only to improve in specific skills, but to also be able to apply these newly learned skills to

other areas that may initially be unfamiliar. The “far-reaching” goal is for students to use these

skills to become better musicians, meaning this goal will be present long term. 

Many college education programs are becoming more specialized as certain topics are

brought to light and made a “crucial” subject and focus. This idea emphasizes the importance of

content, when in reality acquiring skill and deliberately practicing over time is almost more

important. As musicians, it is important for us to be able to precisely describe how it is we

perform to our best ability. Otherwise, we will be unable to teach in the best way possible. The

smaller components that overall enhance performance quality are what assist in teaching the

most. Without an understanding of these concepts, we are unable to fully educate student

musicians into becoming the best they can be. 

Hannah Contardi
9/21/2020
Amongst the aspects of teaching good musicianship, there are various specifications

educators should be aware of. First, using action verbs to allow for demonstration of

understanding. Next, providing general statements that can apply to all levels of expertise, such

as “gather proper materials”. Along with this, you must also be specific in identifying the details

that your final goal is made up of. Being able to be precise when teaching, as well as fully

understanding the subject matter, can greatly enhance the learning experience for the teacher and

student.