In this episode we explore the difference between just intonation and equal temperament, and take a field trip to learn about an organ with 15 keys per octave (instead of the usual 12), that makes it possible to play purely tuned chords in almost all of the keys. Links: Tuning systems synthesizer: https://utheory.com/experiments/tuning-systems Orga…

In this episode, Greg Ristow and David Newman talk about the value and role of intervallic ear training, why it's time to move beyond Here comes the bride, and ways of teaching intervallic hearing that build fundamental skills for sight singing and dictation. Links: Karpinski, Gary. "A Cognitive Basis for Choosing a Solmization System," Music Theor…

David Newman and Greg Ristow chat about four ways to teach intervals in music theory, as well as how to overcome some of the challenges of teaching intervals. Transcript [music] 0:00:20.8 Greg Ristow: Welcome to Notes from the Staff, a podcast from the Creators of uTheory, where we dive into conversations about music theory, ear training, and music…

Dr. Paula Telesco walks us through some of the "gotchas" that come up when teaching accidentals, and shares some great musical examples for explaining concepts like enharmonic spelling, double accidentals, and cautionary accidentals. Transcript [music] 0:00:21.0 Gregory Ristow: Welcome to Notes from the Staff, a podcast from the creators of uTheory…

Dr. Leigh VanHandel joins us to talk about the science of memory and learning, and how it can help us better structure our teaching. We also chat about her new book, the Routledge Companion to Music Theory Pedagogy, which recently received an Outstanding Multi-Authored Collection award from the Society for Music Theory, and about the Workshops in M…

Dr. Stefanie Dickinson joins us to share some of the music fundamentals games that she uses in her music theory classroom. Links Routledge Companion to Music Theory Pedagogy Dr. Stefanie Dickinson’s page at UCA The Power of Play with Jed Dearybury (Notes from the Staff Episode) Dalcroze Solfege Games with Greg Ristow (Notes from the Staff Episode) …

Dr. Melissa Hoag joins us to talk about ways we can make the teaching of music fundamentals musical, fun and effective. She shares tips from her chapter in The Routledge Companion to Music Theory Pedagogy, and takes us through her list of six best practices for teaching music theory fundamentals. Links Melissa Hoag's faculty page at Oakland Univers…

Leah, David and Greg reflect back on favorite moments of first season of Notes from the Staff, and chat about coming features for uTheory. Links: Solfege Sally uTheory.com Show notes: 0:00:00 Theme Song 0:00:20 Introductions 0:01:00 How David jumped in and sang a Mozart Requiem with Greg on 5 minutes notice 0:03:45 Reflecting on the 2022 Pedagogy i…

David Newman shares his music theory and aural skills teaching songs, as well as some of the stories behind them, in this laughter-filled episode of Notes from the Staff. Links: The Well Trained Ear on BandCamp David Newman on YouTube Show notes: 0:00:20 Introductions 0:02:03 How did you begin writing teaching songs? 0:03:48 David's most popular so…

Jed Dearybury, author of The Playful Classroom and The Power of Play for All Ages joins us to talk about how bringing play into classrooms--no matter the age or level--leads to deeper, more engaged and more joyful learning. Links: Jed Dearybury’s webpage: https://www.mrdearybury.com/ The Playful Classroom: https://theplayfulclassroom.com/ Jed’s Twi…

Dr. Megan Kaes Long of Oberlin Conservatory joins us to talk about the earliest system of Western solfege, hexachordal solmization, and recent trends in music theory pedagogy. Links: Dr. Megan Kaes Long's Oberlin Faculty Page Long, Megan Kaes. Hearing Homophony: Tonal Expectations at the Turn of the Seventeenth Century Early Music Sources: Solmizat…

Leah Sheldon shares tips for going beyond bake sales to build a sustainable fundraising model that can support a vibrant music program. Like what you're hearing? Have topics you want to hear more about? Drop us a note at notes@utheory.com. Show Notes: 00:00: Introductions 03:28 What does the fundraising landscape look like these days? 04:00 Traditi…

Eurhythmics teaches music through movement, improvisation and play. In this episode, Greg Ristow shares some favorite games for teaching solfege drawn from the Dalcroze approach to music education. Videos: Bodyfege for teaching solfege: https://youtu.be/ArVsGHZ8pTE Doop Canon for teaching Quarter, Eighth, Half and Whole Notes: https://youtu.be/kj7t…

Rhythm counting systems: what they are, how we use them, and why might we choose one over another. We break down the plethora of approaches (including 1-e-&-a, Takadimi, Gordon, Kodály, and Orff) into groups, and share tips from our own experience teaching these from preschool to college. Links: Free Printable Rhythm Resources on uTheory Eastman/1-…

What is perfect pitch and why do some people have it when others don't? How does it work and is it possible to learn it? In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth West Marvin (Eastman School of Music, and an author of the Musician's Guide series of textbooks) answers these questions and more. Links: Elizabeth West Marvin's Faculty Page at Eastman Musician’s G…

Veteran music educator Denise Eaton shares a plethora of tips on how to teach sight singing in choral rehearsals, gleaned from her nearly thirty years of leading high school choirs. She's written down this approach in her SMART, STEPS, and InSIGHT sight singing books, which she created to help high school choral conductors like herself overcome the…

Dr. Andrew Machamer joins us to talk about how to teach and build the skills students need to be successful sight readers, not just for contest, but for life. Show Notes 00:00 Intro 0:26 Welcome/Introductions 0:30 Introducing Andrew Machamer, Asst. Prof. of Music Education at Baldwin Wallace 1:45 What do you teach at BW? Band music ed. faculty, tea…

Solfege systems: why we use them, what their particular strengths are, and why you might pick one system over another. We even touch on that hot-button topic of perfect pitch. If you’ve got strong feelings on the Moveable Do vs Fixed Do debate, this is the episode for you! Join David Newman, Leah Sheldon and Greg Ristow for this lively conversation…

Leah Sheldon and Greg Ristow introduce a new podcast from the creators of uTheory.com. Notes from the Staff features conversations about pedagogy, music theory, ear training, music technology and more. In our first episode, which lands Jan. 15, uTheory team member David Newman joins us to talk about solfege systems: what are they, why do we use the…