Speaker: Thomas Johnson

Middle C and quarter notes must be taught at some point, but are they really the best starting point? Music is an aural art. All we have is sound: we begin and end there, and everything in between is scaffolding. How do we concretely teach something that cannot be seen or held? Sound becomes music when the mind gives it context, and that understanding can be taught on its own. Technique, reading, and repertoire are essential on any instrument. This session is about what has to be in the ear first.