WORKSHOPS
Jenna Klein offers workshops on a variety of pedagogical topics ranging from piano works by underrepresented composers to rote teaching. Please contact her to schedule a workshop tailored to your specific audience and time frame.
ACHIEVING AND MAINTAINING FLOW DURING PRACTICE AND PERFORMANCE IN MUSIC
Flow, also referred to as being “in the zone,” is a state of total absorption in an activity where an individual’s challenge and skill are in balance. This mental state, described as cultivating feelings of a loss of self-awareness and a sense of calm and confidence, is sought after by musicians for its positive effect on performance. This presentation explores the factors that foster flow, their effects on performance, and strategies for accessing flow.
EXPANDING THE PIANO REPERTOIRE: ELEMENTARY TO EARLY ADVANCED PIANO WORKS BY DIVERSE COMPOSERS
Inclusion and representation within the piano repertoire provide students of all races and genders with relatable and motivational role models. This workshop presents twenty pieces for beginning to early advanced students by diverse composers. Descriptions of pieces include distinguishable features, potential challenges, pedagogical benefits, brief excerpts, and resources.
CREATIVE GROUP PIANO ACTIVITIES TO REINFORCE REPERTOIRE
Maintaining student engagement and motivation can sometimes present challenges in the group piano classroom. This workshop explores six engaging and creative activities that can be used for partner, group, and individual work within the group piano classroom to learn and reinforce repertoire.
A “HOW-TO GUIDE” FOR IMPLEMENTING ROTE TEACHING INTO WEEKLY LESSONS
Rote learning is a powerful teaching tool that holds musical and technical benefits, builds confidence, and keyboard topography skills. This “how-to guide” outlines rote teaching benefits, tips, strategies, and resources, favorite “go-to” rote piano pieces, and helps teachers integrate rote teaching into their studios.
THE FORGOTTEN FRENCH WOMAN: THE PEDAGOGICAL PIANO WORKS OF GERMAINE TAILLEFERRE
Germaine Tailleferre is most often referenced as the sole female member of Les Six. Though largely unknown, her high-quality piano compositions deserve inclusion in the repertoire. This workshop explores the traits, benefits, and challenges of her intermediate-level pedagogical sets.
INSPIRING EXCELLENCE: THE ROLE OF BLOOM’S TAXONOMY IN THE PIANO LESSON
Developing creative, innovative, and independent students is every teacher’s goal. Bloom’s taxonomy pyramid provides a path to get there. This presentation explores the six levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy pyramid and provides activities for facilitating growth at each pyramid level.
REPERTOIRE SWAPS: DEVELOPING TECHNIQUE AND ARTISTRY THROUGHTRADITIONALLY UNDERREPRESENTED COMPOSERS
Teachers often utilize their “go-to” pieces to teach beginner and intermediate students a certain technical or musical skill. While these pieces may be tried and true, they typically belong to the traditionally exclusionary standard teaching repertoire. This session presents alternatives to the traditional canon through “repertoire swaps” by BIPOC and women composers that can be used to teach fundamental technical and musical skills to beginner and intermediate students.
PEDAGOGICAL DANCES BY WOMEN COMPOSERS
This session will help teachers broaden their pedagogical libraries through the exploration of late elementary through early advanced dance pieces by women composers of the 18th–20th century. Descriptions of each piece will include distinguishable features, important stylistic traits of each dance, potential challenges, pedagogical benefits, resources for accessing scores, and brief performed excerpts of selected works.
