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How Children Learn
How We Learn
There are many theories about how we take in the world around us and learn.
Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences particularly appeals to me simply because it works when I use it.
According to the proponents of multiple intelligences we take in the world via eight methods. These methods fall roughly into three main categories; visual, auditory and tactile. We use each of the eight to some extent as we learn, but mostly we learn through a primary and a strong secondary focus.
(Cute test to see how you learn!)
Firstly, I assume that my students all have a strong musical intelligence. Of the restof the forms of intelligence, I find that five seem to usefully apply to teaching children how to play the violin or viola and I have listed them in the next column.
My job is to figure out which way a student learns best and then to teach to that sense. I begin by teaching each component of the violin training to visual, auditory and tactile senses. As I get to know the student better, I become more sensitive to which methods work best and then I refine my approach.
As the student becomes more advanced, I will begin to pair weaker foci to the stronger to more generally improve the student's ability to learn. As the student hits their teen-age years, I will explain about learning methods, possibly with some advice about applying these methods to homework and studying.
Visual Learners
Read music easily and prefer to play from music rather than memory
Like to see demonstrations of what I am teaching
Develop intonation by watching where they put their fingers
Use my worksheets to get a deeper understanding of the material that I teach
Auditory Learners
Memorize music easily
Like to rush through learning notes and like to get to the point where they can "just play!"
Follow verbal directions best in the studio
Develop solid intonation easily
Learn musical ideas well from listening to me play
Tactile Learners
Really feel how the instrument works
Like to feel my hands and arms while I demonstrate
Develop intonation through a deep understanding of how a note "feels" when it is right
Like to hold flashcards to thoroughly understand the information on each of them
Learn material well when they write it out themselves
Intellectual Learners
Grasp material best when they have a moment to think an explanation through
Like to analyze my explanations and demonstrations to figure out how playing works
Use their secondary focus heavily to support their development of understanding
Understand intonation best when given a very technical explanation of how it works, with demonstrations!
Spatial Relation Learners
Like to create an internal "vision" of how the instrument works
Like intellectual leaners, need the time to think out their own personal understanding of my explanations
Also use their secondary focus to build their understanding of how the instrument works
Last updated 3/3/08
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