Hearing The Changes – Aural Skills and Improvisation Through Grooves (60 Minutes)

Lifetime

All levels

1 lesson

1 quiz

73 students

Overview
Curriculum
Instructor

Course Description

Learn strategies for having a more flexible, creative, and improvisation-friendly ensemble. We demonstrate how to embed aural skills and music theory into fun, groove-based ensemble exercises. Learn how to create opportunities for improvisation, to lead students (and yourself) through the early stages of improvisation in rock, blues, funk, and R&B styles. Discover methods for igniting student agency and ownership over rep and arrangements. Resource list included.

Course Objectives

Learning Objectives:

1. Help teachers incorporate aural learning, improvisation, and group arranging into ensembles

2. Utilize a wide range of technology tools and musical materials

3. Foster a spirit of inclusion, support diverse learning styles, and create culturally relevant instructional experiences

Learning Outcomes

Users will leave this course prepared to:

1. Incorporate aural skills activities into classes

2. Find moments for improvisation in existing repertoire

3. Co-create repertoire with students

Requirements for Completion

1. Watch PD video.
2. Complete required quiz.

Heather Fortune

Educator and Flutist Heather Fortune leads Middle and High School instrumental ensembles at Friends Select, a Quaker school in Center City, Philadelphia. Her inclusive approach centers student voice and choice, utilizes good music technology to empower learners, and builds responsive classroom spaces. Heather coaches rock bands and is a prolific arranger of symphonies, pop classics, Latin grooves, jazz standards, and modern mind-benders. Her publications include Breaking Band - Legacy Ensembles Transformed, available at FFlat Books. In addition to conducting and coaching ensembles, Heather provides instructional coaching and program support to schools and music education non-profits. She serves on the Board of Trustees for Rock To The Future, which supports positive youth development and economic empowerment through free, student-driven music programs for Philadelphia youth. Heather also serves on the Board of the Association for Popular Music Education, promoting and advancing popular music at all levels of education in the classroom and beyond. Heather received her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Music in Flute Performance from Boston University and maintains an active freelance career.

Ethan Hein

Ethan Hein holds a PhD in Music Education from New York University. He is an adjunct professor of music at NYU and the New School, where he teaches songwriting, music theory and production. As a founding member of the NYU Music Experience Design Lab, Ethan has taken a leadership role in the development of online tools for music learning and expression, most notably the Groove Pizza. Together with Will Kuhn, he is the co-author of Electronic Music School: A Contemporary Approach to Teaching Creativity, published by Oxford University Press. Together with Heather Fortune, he is the composer of 5 Pop Grooves for Orff Ensemble, published by F-flat Books. He also writes a monthly column for MusicRader in which he analyzes classic songs.