Collective Creativity in the Music Classroom

Collective Creativity in the Music Classroom

A series of Professional Development sessions led by Dr Nicholas Bannan.

In 2019, two innovative books by Dr Nicholas Bannan were published on creative approaches to music education: Every Child a Composer (Peter Lang); and First Instruments (Oxford University Press).

They are the fruits of some twenty years of research and development in the classroom and rehearsal studio at Primary and Secondary levels that underline the vital importance of singing and self-directed group activity in the acquisition of instinctive musicianship. Central to the approach has been the emergence of the pedagogy of Harmony Signing, a gestural system for directing real-time improvisation and composition with both voices and instruments that can be employed as a creative spur to the mastery of aspects of music theory and aural development.

These PD sessions will set out the principles of teaching that address the potential of collective musical creativity through the medium of Harmony Signing. They are spaced out to permit participants to experiment in their own practice in school and studio in order to develop a community of practitioners able to reflect on and exchange the experience that emerges from them.

Date & Time Tuesdays 3, 17, 31 March and 5 May (6.30pm – 8.30pm)

Cost 
Standard: $10 per session or $30 for the series
Students: $5 per session or $15 for the series
PD certification available

Further details: [email protected]