Music and Keyboard in the Classroom
by Michael Griffin

Book 1 The Fundamentals   
Book 2 Getting Creative           
Teacher Manual

•        Capable of engaging ALL students irrespective of experience
•        Suitable for the difficult middle years’ 6-9.
•        
Emotionally intelligent in design
•        Promotes higher order thinking skills
•        integrated practical music with theory and listening response
•        Download a sample of Book 1
The Fundamentals here.

…and best of all, is FUN, EASY to teach, and inexpensive to implement.
      
Each student book consists of 30 lessons integrating theory, aural,
listening and musical analysis through the practical framework of
keyboard lessons. The unique lesson format teaches
self evaluation
and reflection, and encourages collaboration between students.
Lessons include developing aural skills, improvisation, musical
problem solving, research assignments and contextual theoretical
knowledge.

This is all explained in the
teacher manual, a 50 page booklet on how
to maximise teaching in the keyboard laboratory.
Testimonials:

Hi Michael,
I met you at the conference in Perth Australia. I was totally impressed
with the work you showed in your session and how you use the
keyboards to teach 'non' music children…        Tammy- W.A

I am very pleased with the book and guide…Love the books        (Dr)
Marina -Sudan

Congratulations on these terrific books. I appreciate the research, the
quotes that you have included and the positive nature of all of the
curriculum and assessments.        L.S MA, USA

The general layout and progression is great and I like the questions
related to each piece / lesson.        J.H, UK

I have been going with your course for a short while now. I must say
I am amazed at the positive response from students. Especially the
ones that play drums or guitar and have a mental block with 'piano'
music. They walk into the class and immediately ask to play. I also
find that kids with no previous knowledge love it, perhaps because
they feel they can achieve and so the goals are attainable. Thanks so
much.        T.N -Australia
Music Education World
What the students say...

94% enjoy the course

The level of difficulty is appropriate - 91%

Happy with rate of improvement -89%

An increased interest in music -72%

Would consider private keyboard lessons in the future -45%

If affordable, hire/buy same keyboard -34%

Students also identified improvement in life/study
skills as a direct result of this music course.

Concentration -73%

Co-ordination  -70%

Working alone -70%

Working with others - 67%

Skills in other subject areas -42%
Good news from the research front:

Students who learn keyboard have improved pattern
recognition and mental representation scores (spatial
reasoning).
full article

Students who learn keyboard are better equipped to
comprehend mathematical and scientific concepts, and
score higher in standardised tests.
full article

Group keyboard lessons reduce stress more so than resting
or reading
full article
How does this general
music course address:

the 5  Key Aims of the
UK Music Manifesto

the 9 content standards
USA MENC National
Standards for Music
Education

the key elements and
concerns from the recent

Australian National Review
of School Music Education?
           
Why teach music in a
keyboard lab? What's
wrong with the traditional
approach?
Find out
This book has been
purchased in...

Australia
New Zealand
New Guinea
England
Sudan
United Arab Emirates
United States of America
Qatar
Jordan
What's it like
teaching in Dubai?

Written for the
International Society
for Music Education
January, 2008
“Creating emotional intelligence opportunities for general
music students in the keyboard laboratory” will be presented
by Michael Griffin at ISME 2008 (July), Bologna, Italy.
Read a review of
Music and Keyboard
in the Classroom

from
Music
Matters, U.S.A

Read an interview
with Michael Griffin
from the same site