Learning Strategies For Musical Success

by Michael Griffin

When it comes to musical skill, why is it that some people achieve so much more than others? We are frequently led to believe this is because of a talent hardwired into their DNA. Now, music educator Michael Griffin dismisses that age-old notion in favour of another known practice. His new book, Learning Strategies for Musical Success illustrates how the quantity and quality of practice is the greatest predictor of musical success so that aspiring musicians of all ages and abilities can best bring about expert performance. This inspiring, accessible guide will equip students, teachers, adult learners, and parents with the methods and mindset to improve the likelihood of learning music successfully."Deeply impressive; the breadth of research is fascinating!" – Victorian Music Teachers Association"Terrific...eminently practical...excellent discussion...I came away inspired and excited." - The Music Trust, Australia"This book really does deliver" - American Music Teacher“I can’t think of any other book that draws on so many resources to create a new understanding of learning music. Every serious music student, music teacher, and parent of a music student will find important information in this book. Griffin gives clear examples of how concepts are applied that make for enjoyable reading. This book has a potential for making lifelong differences in the lives of music students, parents and teachers.” - Roy Ernst, PhD, LLD Professor Emeritus, Eastman School of Music of The University of Rochester"A must buy for every music teacher and music student. Bravo on a most stimulating read. This draws together old wisdom and the latest research. I am re-reading this excellent book for the third time, highlighter pen in hand." 5 stars (Amazon Rank) - William Bruce, Guildhall UK."A most stimulating read that has given me a great deal to think about." - Nicholas Carpenter, Prebendal, UK."Fantastic book...simply brilliant!" - Ian Cooper, Norfolk Music Service, UK."A must read for all music educators. Michael Griffin has collected lessons from his own experience - which is extensive, and pertinent, recent research to provide a detailed overview of how we learn, and how students can be empowered and trained to become effective, efficient and independent learners. The book is well documented, making it convenient to go on to further reading about the topics of each chapter. The language is concise and easily understood, yet deeply practical and useful." - 5 stars Robert Adams, Music Educator, New Haven, USA."Don't miss this opportunity!" - 5 stars Mary George, USA.

Genres: Music, Education, Nonfiction

198 pages, Paperback

First published August 26, 2013

About the author

Michael Griffin B.Ed Music, M.Ed Studies, A.Mus.A (Pianoforte)

Michael Griffin has been involved in music education since 1985. As a conductor Michael and his school ensembles achieved many awards including the Australasian Open Choral Championship in 2004, a first for an Australian secondary school. Michael was awarded the Education and Arts Ministers’ Prize in 2006, and is listed in the Who’s Who SA Edition for 2007 and 2008. He was nominated for a National Teaching Excellence award in 2005.
In recent years, Michael has been based in Dubai and the UK, consulting in schools and at conferences in more than 20 countries. Michael has adjudicated eisteddfods in SA, QLD and the ACT. More recently, Michael has been consulting for Cambridge University Press redesigning music curriculum for Kazakhstan, and is currently Head of Music at CBC in Adelaide.
Michael’s books include ‘Bumblebee: Rounds & Warm-Ups for Choirs’ and ‘Learning Strategies for Musical Success’. Trained as a classical pianist, performance residencies include Dubai’s Burj al Arab and Australia’s Hayman Island.

Reviews

[JJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael Griffin has tried to give us a comprehensive book on musical learning. Even though the book holds many interesting insights, the attempt to be comprehensive also means that he was not able to go in depth in many chapter, or at some places even worse, satisfies himself with saying just the obvious.
The book does a wonderful job in laying out the traps adults and children may face on their musical learning path and can therefore be recommended if you feel unsure about how to stay on the right track throughout the years. This job is achieved within the first three chapters. The last three chapters, which muse about musical education and different types of intelligence, are somewhat redundant, and probably only musical educators will find some added value hidden away in between the paragraphs.
While the writing style is mostly convincing, it derails at times into the style of a pamphlet. The text builds often on quotes of famous thinkers. In the beginning, this is amusing and often also instructive. However, towards the end the text jumps from quote to quote, where the quotes are presented as absolute, beautiful truths, without going into the laborious and tricky work of exploring the thinking behind them.
All in all the book gives the feeling of attending a TED talk, where during the talk you are impressed by the strong and daring statements, but which leaves you behind with an empty feeling when you try to retrieve the key messages, but this time without the rhetoric skills of the presenter. I would nevertheless recommend the book for the strong first three chapters and am grateful that Michael Griffin put his life long experience with musical education down in this book for us to learn from.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning Strategies For Musical Success is a wonderful collection of powerful insights and research that absolutely holds the power to provide exactly what the title suggests. Michael Griffin presents a wide array of not-too-long chapters and subheadings that intertwine and support each other in harmonious fashion. Information is sequenced in an order that makes sense and allows the reader to begin tapping into its magic essentially right from the beginning.

I am grateful to all presented and will make sure to delve deeper into some of the references as many seemingly just-as-powerful books were mentioned throughout. The beauty of much of its contents is that it can actually be applied beyond music to general studying and learning. This of course applies beyond academic settings and it more-than-relevant to those who consider themselves to be students of life.

I will be coming back every once-in-a-while to reinforce and integrate the plentiful lessons of this publication. And of course, be practicing my piano!

Five stars!
*****

[Katrina Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting read, with much research-backed advice presented concisely.