Creativity First: Encouraging Musical Exploration
In episode 80, we dive into the transformative world of creative music education with Steve Giddings, an innovative music educator and advocate for hands-on, student-driven learning. Steve shares his journey from traditional conservatory training to championing a more dynamic and accessible approach to teaching music. Through his experiences, Steve has developed techniques that encourage students to explore music through improvisation, creativity, and collaboration. Whether teaching rock bands, flipping Bloom’s Taxonomy, or introducing new rhythms, Steve emphasizes making music education more about creating and less about replicating.
Join us as we explore Steve’s innovative classroom practices, from “moshing” warm-ups to using tools like Groove Pizza and GarageBand to compose original works. Steve also discusses the critical role of fostering a safe space for students to make mistakes, take risks, and discover their unique musical voices. This episode is packed with practical advice for educators looking to bring creativity into their classrooms and inspire students to see themselves as lifelong musicians. Don’t miss this engaging conversation with one of music education’s leading voices!
Listen to the full interview:
Here are some key insights from Episode 80:
- Creativity First: Steve advocates starting music education with creating, flipping the traditional approach of recreating existing works.
- Safe Space for Risks: Encouraging a classroom culture where mistakes are celebrated fosters confidence and innovative musical exploration.
- Practical Creativity: Simple activities like jam sessions or Groove Pizza rhythms help students grasp music by creating, not replicating.
- Music as Language: Steve compares learning music to learning a language—play and experiment first, formal reading comes later.
- Tools for Lifelong Musicianship: Skills like improvisation and ear training ensure students can continue making music beyond formal education.
Connect with Steve and learn more:
- Website: Steve’s Music Room
- Book: Rock Coach
- Book: Creative Musicking
- Book: Technology for Unleashing Creativity
- Book: Mikey’s Place
Ready for more?
You can check out the full interview on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. Or you can listen right here, on Spotify Podcasts!
You might also enjoy these other episodes:
- Episode 25 – The Power of a Mission Statement, featuring Kevin Feher
- Episode 31 – Creating a Culture for Student Empowerment, featuring Matthew Arau
- Episode 51 – Harmony and Connection: Leveraging SEL in Music Education, featuring Elizabeth Peterson
- Episode 52 – Unleashing Our Impact: Empowering Music Educators, featuring Jen Rafferty
