A Musi Learning Theory for Newborn and Young Children

by Edwin E. Gordon

Developed by Edwin E. Gordon and based on research and field testing, it is a stage specific model of how students learn music and how it should be taught.

166 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Karin Rau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book in addition to taking MLT training courses has completely changed my teaching. This book explains how humans learn music (not necessarily how to teach music). It is not how humans learn to read notation, immitate music, memorize music, play a physical instrument, which is what most music teachers today do (including all of my own) because that is likely how they were taught. The process parallels how humans learn language. You wouldn’t teach a child to read and write or even memorize rote phrases in order to communicate if they haven’t already had time to hear and interact with the language informally, babbling and having time to organize the sounds they are hearing into patterns they can understand and improvise themselves. The same is true for learning music. Our goal in learning music is to audiate- thinking and understanding music in your head. Without knowing the research of the stages of development our brains go through when aquiring the ability to audiate, you can’t sequence instruction to the student’s level and guide them to a higher level. Only drilling fingering patterns, or hours of memorizing everyday only trains your body (and kills the joy) in music. This books enlightened me in how humans learn and can be guided to audiate - in other words, train the instrument between our ears.

Four stars because this is book is extremely dense. I read and re-read each chapter several times, and still wonder what he means with a few things. You have to learn a bunch of new vocabulary to label the mental concepts discussed. There should almost be a more accessible version of this book that uses more accessible language for someone of the general public to read. There could be more metephors to explain the concepts. There could also be more concrete examples of the practical application of the theory. But that is why I took the courses. That’s where you learn how to apply MLT.

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting and helpful in learning about Music Learning Theory. The writing could have used some editing and clarifying some phrasing, but don't let that discourage you from reading it. It is fascinating to learn about what Gordon studied in children and how they learn music and what he found to be a successful way of teaching music. Definitely things to think on and use.