Music Learning

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020 - Asking the Right Kinds of Questions

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020 - Asking the Right Kinds of Questions

As teachers, we ask a lot of questions.

  • What’s the first note?

  • What’s your hand position?

  • Which finger plays the black key?

  • What kind of note do we sing in m. 8?

  • Are these notes stepping or skipping?

But, did you know there are different kinds of questions (or ways of asking questions) that can actually promote learning?

A good question does more than assess student learning or mastery of a concept; it can actually foster a deeper level of understanding, open space for productive dialogue, and promote self-reflection.

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019 - The Benefits of Rote Learning & How to Use It in Your Teaching

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019 - The Benefits of Rote Learning & How to Use It in Your Teaching

When we learn something by rote, we start by listening, then experiencing it ourselves — imitating what we see or hear, listening again, and repeating it until we can do it on our own.

Today, I want to talk about why rote learning is important and three of the primary benefits of rote learning in music education, and offer some practical, step-by-step techniques for incorporating rote-learning into your teaching approach.

017 - How to Channel Your Inner Child and See the World Differently

017 - How to Channel Your Inner Child and See the World Differently

I love working with five-year-olds.

I love their creativity, their fearlessness, their willingness to try new things, their crazy imaginations, and the way they make everything silly and fun.

Of course, we were all five once. But it’s all too easy to forget what that sense of wonder feels like, to be curious and inquisitive, to ask questions and seek out the answers, to try something you’ve never tried before. Today, I’m sharing eight ways to channel your inner child and see the world differently.

014 - What Will You Learn This Summer?

014 - What Will You Learn This Summer?

One of the things I love about summer is the slower pace: the invitation to create a new routine, a new rhythm, the opportunity to learn and work and rest at my own pace. And despite a global pandemic and public health crisis, that hasn’t changed. Looking for a few ideas for how to spend your time this summer? Here are a few things to explore:

011 - Zig Zag: The Surprising Path to Greater Creativity

011 - Zig Zag: The Surprising Path to Greater Creativity

In his book, Zig Zag: The Surprising Path to Greater Creativity, Keith Sawyer outlines 8 stages of the creative process but rather than following a clear and direct path forward, starting here and ending there, the path to greater creativity has more zigs and zags; it’s unpredictable, erratic, and yes, surprising. Here are my three biggest takeaways from this book:

003 - The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

003 - The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

The book, "Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us" by Daniel H. Pink is based on scientific research by people like Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, Carol Dweck, and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, among others, and provides insight into the role of motivation in our lives. Here are my three biggest takeaways:

Follow along with my creative work and daily adventures: @ashleydanyew

In honor of #smallbusinesssaturday2024, here are my ✨2025 predictions✨ for musicians and creative entrepreneurs: 1️⃣ Pivoting will still be essential: Flexibility and adaptability will define success—embrace change and be willing to evolve.
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Let’s be honest, this month (year?!) has been hard. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s this: As an independent, self-employed musician and small business owner, you’re resilient. You don’t give up when s