Product Description

In this collection of insightful essays, the author describes fundamental principles of human learning in the context of teaching music. Written in an engaging, conversational style, the individual essays outline the elements of intelligent, creative teaching. Duke effectively explains how teachers can meet the needs of individual students from a wide range of abilities by understanding more deeply how people learn. Teachers and interested parents alike will benefit from this informative and highly readable book.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #61857 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-01
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Review
Reading Robert Duke's newly published collection of essays is like witnessing a lecture by this influential music educator: energetic, thought-provoking, incisive and down-to-earth.... [T]eachers will benefit immediately from his applications to the studio and classroom of the "expansive, rich body of data that illuminates the processes of knowledge acquisition and skill development." Duke's educational beliefs and prejudices are well-supported throughout the collection. He believes a music lesson can, and should, be as carefully planned as a military maneuver with goals clearly identified, strategy precisely outlined and tactics minutely executed. He then proceeds to describe those goals, strategies and tactics in as distinct and disciplined a manner as he would expect of any teacher under his guidance. As the supervisor of a piano class program for many years, I found myself nodding my head in agreement throughout the book. His essays on "Sequencing Instruction" and "Transfer" alone make this book essential reading for my graduate assistants and pedagogy classes. But to enjoy the essays like individual dishes on a buffet obscures what I believe is the book's fundamental ritornello: remember that what you're teaching is not necessarily what the student is learning.... At times Duke's reach exceeds his grasp, but there is so much complex and vital information that he clearly does grasp, that musician-teachers of every type will find this book a "must-read." --American Music Teacher Magazine

We often hear the statement, "Teaching is an art," and I agree that it is, but often the statement is a cop-out for one's inability to identify the components of artful teaching that make for effective learning. If you want to know what those components are and begin to improve your teaching effectiveness and your students progress immediately, then Intelligent Music Teaching...is the place to begin.... Bob Duke has identified the components of effective music teaching in a way that is understandable, thought-provoking, research-based and useful in a variety of music teaching settings. --American Suzuki Journal

We often hear the statement, "Teaching is an art," and I agree that it is, but often the statement is a cop-out for one's inability to identify the components of artful teaching that make for effective learning. If you want to know what those components are and begin to improve your teaching effectiveness and your students progress immediately, then Intelligent Music Teaching...is the place to begin.... Bob Duke has identified the components of effective music teaching in a way that is understandable, thought-provoking, research-based and useful in a variety of music teaching settings. --American Suzuki Journal

About the Author
Robert Duke is the Marlene and Morton Meyerson Centennial Professor in Music and Human Learning, University Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Director of the Center for Music Learning at The University of Texas at Austin.

Customer Reviews

Duke knows great teaching
Dr. Duke's ability to cover the most important issues of music instruction on a very deep level in straight forward and clear language is truly impressive. His insights are supported by solid scientific research as well as reference to personal experience. The principles put forward in this book changed forever my view of what great teaching is and can be, and have, without doubt, made me a more effective teacher. As the director of the Orpheus Academy of Music I have made this book required reading for every isntructor at our school and their responses have been unanimously enthusiastic. A "must read" for any current or prospective music teacher.

A must for all music educators!
I have used this book for a music education graduate seminar and this fall I will be using it with student teachers. The students have found it to be thought-provoking, and the readings have led to meaningful class discussions. The essays can be helpful for new teachers, or veterans of the music classroom at all levels. Duke presents principles of teaching and learning with applications in many settings. I will continue to use this book for the preparation of music teachers.

A review on Intelligent Music Teaching
We've been using this book in one of my music education classes. After reading it, writing countless essays about it, and discussing it for months, I've noticed that this book can be applied to almost any field. It covers issues that consume our American education system. Duke's way of explaining things in a way that anyone can understand helps make this book not only an easy ready, but extremely informative to just about anyone that is interested. His chapter on Assessment is one of the most forward essays I've read, and someone who has as much experience as this man does definitely has a place to say something on the issue. This book is not just for teaching music, it's about teaching intelligently in general. I'd recommend it to anyone who is a teacher, wants to be a teacher, or wants to understand teaching in a way that the state and lawmakers never seem to see. An excellent, intelligent read, I definitely feel as though my philosophies and theories on teaching have been effected and revised.