"Tapping into Creativity" Article in AMT

I’m excited to tell you that an article of mine, ‘Tapping into Creativity” is being published in the August/September 2011 issue of American Music Teacher. It is on page 25-27 and contains a 1-minute teaching technique which can energize the entire lesson and may even help to maintain a student’s interest in piano for years! Here’s how it begins,

I often find myself reflecting on what makes us unique as humans. When I am able to tap into my student’s essential humanness, I notice that my teaching and composing efforts are exponentially productive because students become excited, more interested and more committed to learning and making beautiful music. Lately, the following truths about humanness have made a huge impact on my teaching: 1) We all long to create; 2) Children create naturally; and 3) Children are excited by affirmation of their creative work…