E01.52: Types and Stages of Audiation

In this episode, I give an overview of the types and stages of audiation.

Mentioned in this episode…


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.47: Bridging to Generalization from Verbal Association

In this episode, I focus on bridging to the Generalization level of inference learning from the Verbal Association level of the Skill Learning Sequence.

E01.47: Bridging to Generalization from Verbal Association

Mentioned in this episode…


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.46: Tunes in Varied Tonalities

In this episode, I share recordings of tunes in varied tonalities composed by participants in the 2022 GIML Professional Development Levels Course at Michigan State University. 

01.46: Tunes in Varied Tonalities

Composers/Performers:

  • MAJOR TONALITY SONGS
    • Alissa Amell-Postler: Untitled
    • Jillian Brennan: Untitled
    • Amelia Mills: Untitled
    • Ashley Wright: Lemon Lime Soda
  • HARMONIC MINOR TONALITY SONGS
    • Evan McIntyre: Untitled
    • Cory Wholehan: Untitled
    • Victoria Vajda: Evening Stroll
    • Ashley Wright: Windshield Wipers
    • Ana Isabel Frias: Untitled
  • MIXOLYDIAN TONALITY SONGS
    • Stuart Hill: Pink Horizon
    • Amelia Mills: Untitled
    • Noor Sarna: Untitled
    • Maria Schoon: Untitled
    • Jillian Brennan: Untitled
    • Madeline Steffke: Octopi Are Dancing
  • DORIAN TONALITY SONGS
    • Alissa Amell-Postler: Untitled
    • Kat Jakrzewski: Untitled
    • Jillian Brennan: Untitled
    • Mike Kurilko: Untitled
    • Maria Schoon: A Dorian Tune
    • Madeline Steffke: Untitled
  • PHRYGIAN TONALITY SONGS
    • Karen Salvador: Phrygian Can Bounce
    • Dillon Walters: Bumble Bee
    • Ana Isabel Frias: Untitled
    • Stuart Hill: Forest Traipsing
    • Victoria Vajda: Phrygian Melody
    • Evan McIntyre: Untitled
    • Noor Sarna: Untitled
  • LYDIAN TONALITY SONGS
    • Tory Frumin: Untitled
    • Kat Jakrzewski: Untitled
    • Dillon Walters: Yellow Kite
    • Karen Salvador: Lylt
    • Mike Kurilko: Untitled
    • Cory Wholehan: Untitled
  • AEOLIAN TONALITY SONGS
    • Stuart Hill: Race Against the Clock
    • Tory Frumin: Untitled
    • Maria Schoon: Untitled
  • LOCRIAN TONALITY SONGS
    • Alissa Amell-Postler: Untitled
    • Jillian Brennan: Untitled
    • Ashley Wright: Avocado on an Everything Bagel

Mentioned in this episode…


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.40: Aid for Aeolian

In this episode, we focus on building audiation in Aeolian tonality.

E01.40: Aid for Aeolian

Mentioned in this episode…


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.34: Tonal Aural/Oral Skills

In this episode, we focus on tonal skills learned at the Aural/Oral level of the Skill Learning Sequence. 

E01.34 Tonal Aural/Oral Skills

Mentioned in this episode…


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

[RE-AIR] E01.01: What Is Audiation?

There have been a LOT of new listeners in the past few weeks so in the next few off-weeks, I’ll be re-airing some old episodes. These will cover key concepts for those new to MLT!


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.32: Leaping Into Lydian

In this episode, we focus on building audiation in Lydian tonality. 

E01.32: Leaping Into Lydian

Mentioned in this episode:


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.21: Musicianship-Building Pt. 2

In this episode, we continue our musicianship skill-building and REALLY get into improvisation!

E01.21: Musicianship-Building Pt. 2

Mentioned in this episode:


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.17: Dabbling in Dorian

In this episode, I focus on building audiation in Dorian tonality. 

E01.17: Dabbling in Dorian

Mentioned in this episode:


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.16: Chatting with Alison Reynolds

In this episode, I have a conversation with GIML faculty member and Professor of Music Education, Dr. Alison Reynolds.

E01.16: Chatting With Alison Reynolds

Mentioned in this episode:


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.15: Informal Guidance Ideas

In this episode, I share some ideas for providing students with informal music guidance experiences.

E01.15: Informal Guidance Ideas

Mentioned in this episode:


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.14: Preparatory Audiation

In this episode, I give an overview of Gordon’s theory of preparatory audiation.

E01.14: Preparatory Audiation

Mentioned in this episode:


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.12: Mixolydian Meanderings

In this episode, I focus on building audiation in Mixolydian tonality. 

E01.12: Mixolydian Meanderings

Mentioned in this episode:


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.11: MLT Resources

In this episode, I share an overview of available MLT-related resources.

E01.11: MLT Resources

Mentioned in this episode:


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.07: Menu of Meters

In this episode, we discuss rhythmic context, or meter, and run through an overview of a variety of meters.

E01.07: Menu of Meters

Mentioned in this episode:


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.06: Taste of Tonalities!

In this episode, we talk about tonal context and run through an overview of a variety of tonalities.

E01.06: Taste of Tonalities

Mentioned in this episode:


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.05: “Whole-Part-Whole” Learning: Context & Content

In this episode, we discuss the “whole-part-whole” learning process in MLT, including the difference between context and content.

Everyday Musicality: Episode 01.05 (“Whole-Part-Whole” Learning: Context & Content)

Mentioned in this episode:

  • GIA Publications (www.giamusic.com)
  • The Ways Children Learn Music by Eric Bluestine (https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/ways-children-learn-music-book-g5480)
  • If you would like to enter to win a copy of “The Ways Children Learn Music” by Eric Bluestine, share your favorite episode of this podcast so far on social media and add the hashtags #everydaymusicalitypodcast and #giapublications. You can do this on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Just remember to set the post privacy to “public” or tag Everyday Musicality Podcast on FB so that I’ll be able to see it when I search for the hashtags. 

Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.04: Common Misconceptions About MLT

In this episode, we look at some common misconceptions about MLT.

Everyday Musicality: Episode 01.04 (Common Misconceptions About MLT)

Mentioned In This Episode:

GIA Publications (www.giamusic.com)

Navigating Music Learning Theory: A Guide for General Music Teachers by Dr. Jill Reese (https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/applying-music-learning-theory-in-elementary-general-music-book-g9691)

Gordon Institute for Music Learning (www.giml.org)

Summary of my study on elementary music teachers’ beliefs about composition (https://everydaymusicality.com/2019/03/06/teachers-beliefs-regarding-composition-in-elementary-general-music-shouldice-2014/)

“Research to Real Life” blog (https://everydaymusicality.com/research-to-real-life/)

“Research to Real Life” Facebook page: (https://www.facebook.com/everydaymusicality/)


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.03: What Is Sequential Music Learning?

In this episode, we examine the third of three core tenets of MLT: Sequential Music Learning.

Everyday Musicality: Episode 01.03 (What Is Sequential Music Learning?)

Mentioned in this episode:


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.01: What Is Audiation?

In this episode, we examine the first of three core tenets of MLT: Audiation!

Everyday Musicality: Episode 01.01 (What Is Audiation?)

Mentioned in this episode:


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

E01.00: Pilot Episode!

Everyday Musicality: Episode 01.00 (Pilot!)

In today’s pilot episode, we’ll hear a brief introduction to this podcast and set the stage for what’s to come!


Support the podcast by becoming a patron on Patreon!


Host: Heather Nelson Shouldice


Sponsors: GIA Publications, Inc., Gordon Institute for Music Learning


Podcast Cover Art: Tyler Nordstrom


Intro/Outro Music: Heather Nelson Shouldice


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, email them to everydaymusicality@gmail.com!

RTRL.03: “Audiation-based Improvisation Techniques and Elementary Instrumental Students’ Music Achievement” (Azzara, 1993)

Source:

Azzara, C. D. (1993). Audiation-based improvisation techniques and elementary instrumental students’ music achievement. Journal of Research in Music Education, 41(4), 328-342.

What did the researcher want to know?

What effect does an improvisation curriculum have on instrumental students’ music achievement?

What did the researcher do?

Azzara (1993) studied 66 fifth grade students from two different schools who were in their second year of instrumental music study.  Students at each school were randomly assigned to either the control group or the treatment group.  Both groups received instruction using Jump Right In: The Instrumental Music Series, which utilizes a “sound before sight” learning process and includes tonal pattern and rhythm pattern instruction.  In addition, the treatment group also regularly engaged in improvisation activities, which included “(a) learning selected repertoire of songs by ear, (b) developing a vocabulary of tonal syllables and rhythm syllables, and (c) improvising with their voices and with their instruments tonic, dominant, and subdominant tonal patterns within the context of major tonality, and (d) improvising with their voices and with their instruments macrobeat, microbeat, division, elongation, and rest rhythm patterns within the context of duple meter” (p. 335).

What did the researcher find?

At the end of the 27-week period, Azzara (1993) recorded each student individually performing three etudes: one prepared without teacher assistance, one prepared with teacher assistance, and one sight-read.  Four judges rated each recording for tonal performance, rhythm performance, and expressive performance.  Statistical analysis of these ratings revealed that the students in the treatment group (who had experienced improvisation activities) had significantly higher composite etude performance scores than students who had not received instruction incorporating improvisation.

What does this mean for my classroom?

Having experiences with improvisation can help improve students’ performance achievement.  Just as speaking and conversing enhance the skills of reading and writing language, improvising music can enhance students’ music reading skills and performance of notated music. “When improvisation was included as a part of elementary instrumental music instruction, students were provided with opportunities to develop an increased understanding of harmonic progression through the mental practice and physical performance of tonal and rhythm patterns with purpose and meaning. Improvisation ability appears to transfer to a student’s clearer comprehension of the tonal, rhythmic, and expressive elements of music in an instrumental performance from notation” (p. 339).

Suggestions for Teaching Improvisation:

(From Azzara’s 1999 MEJ article “An Aural Approach to Improvisation”)

  • First and foremost, “use your ears. To develop improvisational skill, don’t rely on notation to remember music; rely on your ears” (p. 23).
  • Provide students with opportunities to listen to music (e.g., performed by the teacher, recorded music) in a wide variety of styles, tonalities (i.e., modes), and meters.
  • Develop a repertoire of simple tunes that students can sing and play by ear.
  • Teach students to sing and play basslines of simple tunes by ear.
  • Chant simple rhythm patterns for students to echo (chant/play) to develop their rhythmic “vocabulary” and sing simple tonal patterns for students to echo (sing/play) to develop their tonal “vocabulary.”

Examples of Rhythm Patterns and Tonal Patterns:

  • Learn tonal solfege and rhythm syllables by ear. These systems help students organize, comprehend, and read/write music.
  • “Improvise (1) rhythm patterns with and without rhythm syllables, (2) tonal patterns with and without tonal syllables, (3) rhythm patterns to familiar bass lines, and (4) rhythms on specific harmonic tones from particular harmonic progressions [e.g., to familiar tunes]. Improvise a melody by choosing notes that outline the harmonic functions of the progression (i.e., notes chosen from arpeggios) and perform them on each beat” (p. 23).
  • Play around with embellishing melodies, harmony parts, chord tones, and basslines.

Azzara’s 2011 TEDx Talk on Improvisation

Other Helpful Resources:

Developing Musicianship Through Improvisation

Jump Right In: The Instrumental Series

RTRL.01:“The Effects of Harmonic Accompaniment on the Tonal Improvisations of Students in First Through Sixth Grade” (Guilbault, 2009)

Source:

Guilbault, D. M. (2009). The effects of harmonic accompaniment on the tonal improvisations of students in first through sixth grade. Journal of Research in Music Education, 57(2), 81-91.

What did the researcher want to know?

How might experiencing root melody (bassline) accompaniment to songs affect elementary students’ tonal improvisations?

What did the researcher do?

Guilbault (2009) studied 419 of her own students in grades one through six for almost an entire school year.  These students were divided into two groups, with approximately half of the classes (the “treatment” group) experiencing “root melody” accompaniments during music instruction and the other half (the “control” group) experiencing only a cappella singing.  Similar to a bassline, “a root melody is the melodic line created by the fundamental pitches of the harmonic functions found in a song” (p. 84).  Pitches in a root melody can be played/sung and sustained once per chord change or repeated on each beat.  The students in the treatment group experienced root melodies with approximately 80% of the songs included in each class period and during improvisation activities.  These root melody accompaniments were either played on a pitched instrument (e.g., xylophone, piano), played by a voice recording, sung by the teacher/researcher as the students sang a song, sung by the students as the teacher/researcher sang a song, or sung by the student(s) as another student(s) sang a song.  The students in the control group experienced all the same songs and improvisation activities as the treatment group but without any accompaniment.

What did the researcher find?

At the end of the school year, Guilbault (2009) recorded each student vocally improvising an ending to an unfamiliar song without accompaniment. Three music educators judged the recordings, rating the degree to which each student improvised a melodic ending that used clearly implied harmonic changes and good harmonic rhythm. Statistical analysis of these ratings revealed that the students in the treatment group (who had experienced root melody accompaniments throughout the school year) were able to vocally improvise song endings that made more harmonic sense than students in the control group (who had not experienced root melody accompaniments).

What does this mean for my classroom?

Exposing students to harmonic progressions in familiar songs helps them develop better harmonic understanding, which in turn enables students to vocally improvise with a better sense of harmonic progression. If music teachers wish to help their students develop the ability to vocally improvise with a good sense of harmonic progression, they might consider providing students with many opportunities to experience root melody accompaniments to the songs they learn in music class. Teachers could do this by playing root melody accompaniments on an instrument, singing them while students sing a song, teaching students to sing root melody accompaniments while the teacher sings the song, or having students sing songs and root melody accompaniments in two groups or even as duets.

Examples of Tunes with Simple Chord Root Accompaniments:

Video of first grade students practicing singing a melody and bassline/chord root accompaniment in partners. (View video description on YouTube site for an overview of the teaching process used.)
Video of first grade students singing a duet with me: I sing melody; student sings chord roots in solo. (View video description on YouTube site for an overview of the teaching process used.)

Note: Some text featured in this post was originally published in the following article:

Shouldice, H. N. (2016). Research to ‘real life’: Implications of recent research for elementary general music. Michigan Music Educator, 53(2), 23-26.