Staff INSET

Michael Griffin with members of
Sarasas Ektra School and APEP
Member schools, Thailand   
 

Understanding Motivation and The Power of Flow

Motivation - the fuel of human behaviour, is essential understanding for teaching and learning. Csiksentmihalyi's concept of Flow explores intrinsic motivation in its purest form. What is Flow and how can it be applied to everyday classroom practice?

Inspiring learners through a multi-intelligence framework

This presentation explores a creative pedagogy designed to engage students through a multi-disciplinary learning framework. Unleash the creative potential of trans-disciplinary connection.

Pathway to Expertise

Why do certain people achieve so much more than others? Explore the 'software' elements of expertise: goal setting, motivation, intelligence mindset, work ethic, impulse control and perseverance.

Study, Stress and Music

How many students at your school listen to music when they study at home? Most likely, about 75%. Is this distraction or learning arousal? Understand the factors that should be considered in making a decision whether to listen or not to listen, and hence advise students from a position of accurate knowledge.

Music in non-music classrooms

How can music be used effectively in non-music subjects? We explore possibilities for improving learning ourcomes by using music in subjects including maths, science and history.

Click here to request an 8 hour mp3 playlist specifically designed for classrooms. Fee applies.

Talking Music Ed

Specifically for the music faculty. Discover and discuss the latest neuroscientific and psychological understandings relevant to learning music. Particularly recommended for the beginning of the school year when staff are open to reflection and ready for inspiration.

Testimonials

Dear Michael, I loved every moment of your session and was acutely aware that the skills we witnessed was just a fragment of your work. Brilliant. Bravo!

Paul Jarman, Australian composer

ASME WA Summer School 2011: I particularly enjoyed our Keynote speaker Michael Griffin and wished I could have gone to all of his sessions. Mr Griffin clearly has good credentials as a musician and a music teacher in his own right but he has then gone on and reflected on the influences and experiences that have shaped him and his ideas as a music educator. He has synthesised those views and is now sharing them in an articulate way to a varied audience. I admired the range and depth of the people that he quoted as well as the fact that he was very much in touch with relevant contemporary investigation and thinking. I particularly liked the fact that Michael’s talks were well structured but still flexible enough to be responsive to the particular audience, their comments and suggestions. I admired the way that he responded so positively and encouragingly to those who contributed and also liked his openness to other people’s ideas. Isn’t it terrific when an ‘expert’ is also interested in new ideas and open to further discovery?

SP, Western Australia

Dear Michael, Are you exhausted? Well you should be. What a wonderful presenter you are - and performer, too!! I could've stayed there all day and listened to you playing piano. FANTASTIC PRESENTATIONS!! You were absolutely great and, I bet everyone tells you so! You made me feel very confident in what I was doing already, plus, opened a lot of areas I hadn't even thought of. It's the first time I didn't feel hindered to share my point of view and my ideas in front of a group of musicians. I would not have done that in a million years a couple of years ago. You just made it possible with your easiness and openness to people's views. You were so refreshing and comfortable to be with. Keep doing what you are doing and I hope to attend another one or two or more of them. So invigorating!

Your's sincerely PS, Perth

Michael, on behalf of the entire music staff (45+) at our school, may I thank you most sincerely for your inspiring, thought provoking and enjoyable presentation today. I have heard nothing but praise from the staff in attendance for your insightful, relevant, engaging and positive discussion. Your passion and expertise are obvious, and I could not have wished for a better start to the year. With very best wish, and in anticipation of another session for staff and/or students in the near future.

Director of Music, Melbourne.

Michael, I thought your workshop/lecture was the best one I attended at the ECIS 2010 conference. It was thoroughly enjoyable and useful, and I wish I could have attended your other sessions. The way you started was excellent and I like the way you involve your audience and present concepts in such a user-friendly way. I hope we can have you visit and speak at our school.

M. Hawthorn, Head of Mathematics, Oman

The primary teachers were delighted with your tips for choirs and rushed off to put into practice at rehearsal today. Long may it continue! Having the chance to sit down and just talk about music with you was a huge breath of fresh air. Having an expert come in who speaks the same language and sings from the same hymn sheet has helped my sanity no end!

GIS, Malaysia

Once again thank you for inspiring me, I so enjoyed your workshop on Friday. I want to get you here to talk about all sorts of things!

Deputy Principal, Qatar

I must say that I was really impressed with the course that you did for us on Friday and have recommended the morning session as something that all of our staff would benefit from. I can honestly say that it is by far the most thought provoking INSET that I have undertaken.

Head of Creative Arts, Kuwait.

It was just the most inspiring couple of days I remember for some time! Thanks also for the materials you sent me. 

Teacher, Qatar

Firstly, thank you for the workshop on Friday, everyone seemed to very positive about the whole weekend and much of that is down to you.

HOD, Oman

I‘ll start with the positive for term three. Michael Griffin‘s workshop on choral jazz saw a good room-full of eager participants on September 5th. Michael‘s workshop was excellent - well researched, well-organised and the handout was very useful. Michael gave many of us the confidence to tackle choral jazz by removing the mystique and explaining it simply. A teacher at the core, Michael, now resident in Dubai, certainly proved his credentials!

ANCA President, Australia

Well researched and informed. Presented in a well-structured manner, and in a way that gives us much to reflect upon. You have an important part to play in promoting and encouraging music in the crowded curriculum; moreover the aspects of professional development you offer are important to the support and mentoring of music educators.

Christchurch Music Teachers, New Zealand 

Thank you for your very insightful workshop on Friday night. Your message was clear and always pitched at a level that young students and their teachers could understand. You helped them to understand how to develop sound reflective music practice techniques. You illustrated many key aspects of how music activates the brain. Thank you so much for a wonderful presentation.

HOD, New Zealand

There was positive feedback from everyone at our end!

Principal, Greenfield Community School, Dubai

Excellent session on multiple intelligences at the ECIS 10 conference in France. I loved your ideas on getting the kids thinking and reflecting on their own personal intelligence.

Glenn Lawler, Elementary School Principal FIS, Germany