PRINCIPLES+FOR+UNLOCKING+MUSICAL+CREATIVITY


 * BACK] **
 * Six Principles for Unlocking Musical Creativity **


 * 1. Employ Student Agency. **
 * This phrase encompasses the idea of students “sharing themselves” (the language used in the 1st Ed.), and emphasizes the idea of student choice in developing creative activities and projects.
 * 2. Offer Compelling Examples (to Imitate and Inspire). **
 * 3. Employ parameters and limitations. **
 * Parameters/limitations help remove distractions and facilitate focus, helping students move forward in creative endeavors. Implicit is the idea of choosing parameters/limitations that don’t stifle creativity and/or lead to contrived expression (formerly Principle #4).
 * 4. Facilitate Experimentation and Improvisation. **
 * This includes improvising, experimenting, planning, thinking about, and other of "pre-composition” tasks.
 * 5. Foster Revision. **
 * The term "revision" comes from the world of Project-Based Learning (and combines former Principle #6 (Engage in Coaching Interaction) and #7 (Foster Opportunities for Feedback and Critique). Fostering Revision encompasses a variety of ways to raise the quality of student work.
 * In the 2nd Ed., I divide this Principle between three Chapters;
 * Foster Revision: Engage in Coaching Interaction
 * Foster Revision: Shepherding Student Composers
 * Foster Revision: Opportunities for Feedback and Critique
 * 6. Employ Exhibition. **
 * Again, I have borrowed the term, “Exhibition,” from the world of Project-Based Learning. Employing some mode of student sharing (of their work with others) has many educational benefits. Examples of exhibition apropos to music teaching and learning include times of brief sharing in class, in class performances, informances, posting work to a class website, or other online venue (i.e. iTunes, Soundcloud, etc.), student coffee house performances, producing a video performance, publishing sheet music, and much more!