Eliciting Artistry

Abstract

Chapter 4 addresses teaching techniques that draw artistry out of children. It describes the tender yet robust nature of children’s artistry and advises that how teachers prompt artistry can draw it out of children or send it into its shell. It identifies aspects of the musical context that are necessary for children’s artistry to thrive and encourages teachers to create the emotional as well as musical context within which children’s artistry can flourish. It also offers techniques for prompting the musical mind so that teachers can most effectively communicate with a developing sense of meter and sense of tonality, directing children’s mindset musically as well as emotionally for developing artistry. This chapter facilitates the application of concepts from previous chapters and builds on the motivation generated throughout this book, empowering teachers to uncover the artistry in their own classrooms and children’s choruses, and to champion children’s artistry in the field of music education.