Diving In: Introduction to
audiation-based piano lessons
with Krista Jadro (kjadro@musiclearningacademy) and Hannah Mayo
(hannah@mayopiano.com)
Music Learning Theory At a Glance
Music Learning Theory: an explanation of how we learn, when we learn music (Dr.
Edwin Gordon)
Audiation: the cognitive process that brings understanding to music that we listen to,
perform, create, read, and write
Music Aptitude: one’s potential for learning music
Sequence: students learn to audiate when guided through a sequence of informal
guidance and formal instruction that is similar to language learning
Applying the Learning Sequence
Teach students repertoire by rote, focusing on tonal and rhythm audiation. Guide your students
to improvise with the rhythm and tonal patterns to help cement the piece in their audiation.
Remember - you don’t have to jump all in at once! Start with just one additional activity and as
you practice and learn more, add another when you’re ready. Below are ideas to get started!
Week 1: Listening (2-4 minutes)
Sing or play the tune/piece 2-3 times for the student(s).
If the piece is long, you can present it in sections over multiple lessons.
Show student(s) how to move. Choose a continuous flow movement for the student to do
while you sing/play.
Ideas: swimming, figure 8’s in the air, body circles, gentle shoulder rolling
Ask the student(s) if they would like to create a movement. If not, tell them to move one
more way.
Week 2: Listening (3-5 minutes)
Away from the keyboard
Play the piece (or part of the piece) Ask the student(s) to LISTEN and MOVE.
Use movement for identifying sections/phrases of the piece.
For example: swimming movement for the “A” section and change to rowing movement
for the “B” section.
Find the Macrobeats and microbeats (show student(s) how to move). Identify the meter
with the student. If student(s) are new to this, ask the question and immediately give the
answer.
At the keyboard
Identify keyboard register.
Locate starting keys.
Week 3: Rhythm (5-7 minutes)
Away from the keyboard
Play the piece (or part of the piece) Ask the student(s) to LISTEN and MOVE.
Move while echoing rhythm patterns
● Macrobeats: feet, shifting body weight from heel to heel
● Micobeats: hands, gently tapping “spider fingers” on the sides as arms hang
Play the piece again and intersperse with chanting rhythm patterns for the student to
echo—chant first on a neutral syllable “BAH” then using rhythm syllables.
At the keyboard
Chant a rhythm pattern from the piece.
Play the rhythm pattern on one key.
Create with each rhythm pattern. Play using any fingers on any keys or give specific
instructions (only black keys, lower register, like a mouse etc).
Week 4: Tonal (5-7 minutes)
Away from the keyboard
Play the piece (or part of the piece) Ask the student(s) to LISTEN and MOVE.
Sing resting tone and identify starting pitch.
Sing tonal patterns from the piece (arpeggiate, indicate to the student when to SING after a
slight audiation pause). Sing on BUM and then solfege.
Identify patterns as tonic or dominant or other.
Sing the melody in phrases when possible (or audiate).
At the keyboard
Sing the tonal patterns.
Play the tonal patterns on the keyboard.
Create/improvise with the tonal patterns.
Idea: One pattern can be used with a specific rhythm pattern and moved to various
registers of the keyboard
Resources for Music Teachers
About Music Learning Theory and Audiation
● Gordon Institute for Music Learning
https://giml.org/mlt/about
● MLT Overview with Dr. Edwin E. Gordon (video series)
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-3pMbJ49BLWRwIzE1V23G7yuS7aCzsMZ
● MLT Practical Applications Workshop with Dr. Edwin E. Gordon (video series)
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-3pMbJ49BLV04y3GinfG8xBFc6SPI8hN
Curriculum and support
● Music Moves for Piano series (Marilyn Lowe in cooperation with Edwin E. Gordon).
https://musicmovesforpiano.com/
● Facebook Group: Introduction to Audiation-based Piano Instruction and Music Moves for Piano.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/696856491076496/
Podcasts
Everyday Musicality (Heather Shouldice)
● https://everydaymusicality.com/podcast
● “Everyday Musicality” is a podcast for music educators that discusses Edwin E. Gordon’s Music
Learning Theory (MLT) and its applications to music teaching and learning.
Keys to Music Learning (Krista Jadro and Hannah Mayo)
● https://www.musiclearningacademy.com/keystomusiclearning
● A podcast that discusses common goals and challenges in the piano studio, and offers
research-based ideas and solutions to guide every one of your students to reach their full musical
potential with audiation.
YouTube
Music Learning Academy (Krista Jadro and the MLA Team)
● Website: https://www.musiclearningacademy.com/
● YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyb7YgOuVQuPRQpIdmowlOA
● We recommend the Q&A videos for teachers new to Music Learning Theory!
The Improving Musician (Andy Mullen)
● Website: https://theimprovingmusician.com/
● YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheImprovingMusician
● One of our favorites is the playlist of Singing Bass Lines!
Free Webinars
● What’s in a Music Moves for Piano Lesson? (Hannah Mayo)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MweUMwAqfWE
● Music Aptitude (Janna Olson) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMG8cJzvTrY&t=6s
● Pattern Power: Learning Piano Repertoire through Rhythm and Tonal Pattern Play (Hannah
Mayo) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHVFpEkKc1I
● The Lister-Sink Method: Principles of Injury-Preventive Keyboard Technique (Scarlette Kerr)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwfQHRv3iUA
Music Learning Academy also offers a variety of 1-hour webinars ($15 each or discounted
bundles). Visit https://www.musiclearningacademy.com/webinars to learn more.
Books
Very Approachable:
● Clarity by Comparison and Relationship: A Bedtime Reader for Music Educators (Edwin E.
Gordon)
● The Ways Children Learn Music (Eric Bluestine)
● Essential Preparation for Beginner Instrumental Music Instruction (Edwin E. Gordon)
Approachable; sometimes mildly dense:
● Taking a Reasonable and Honest Look at Tonal Solfege and Rhythm Solfege (Edwin E. Gordon)
● Preparatory Audiation, Audiation, and Music Learning Theory (Edwin E. Gordon)
● A Music Learning Theory for Newborn and Very Young Children (Edwin E. Gordon)
Very approachable; for those serious about applying the MLT lens in their teaching:
● Navigating Music Learning Theory (Jill Reese)
● Weaving it All Together: A Practical Guide to Applying Gordon’s Music Learning Theory in the
Elementary General Music Program (Heather Shouldice)
● MLT Any Music Teacher Can Du...De: Teacher's Guide to "The Literate Musician" (Andy Mullen)
Challenge; dense:
● Learning Sequences in Music: Skill, Content, and Patterns (2012) (Edwin E. Gordon)
