Memory, Learning and Theory Pedagogy with Leigh VanHandel

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 Music Theory Pedagogy series she coordinates.

 

Links:

Leigh VanHandel's faculty page at the University of British Columbia

The Routledge Companion to Music Theory Pedagogy: 

Workshops in Music Theory Pedagogy

Ask Dr. Van

uTheory

Chapters:

00:00:20 Introductions

00:01:45 Editing the Routledge Companion to Music Theory Pedagogy

00:07:56 How math pedagogy research can inform our teaching of music theory

00:12:34 Long term, short term and working memory.

00:15:24 The relationship of working memory and visuo-spatial skills

00:19:00 How learning happens, neurologically. (Schema forming)

00:21:21 The implications of schemas for how we teach

00:24:13 The curse of expertise, and working memory

00:32:30 The value of memorization vs. deriving concepts

00:34:30 Using schema to teach for fluency

00:44:58 Strategies for identifying and helping students with working memory limitations

00:50:20 Reducing cognitive load to help students focus on what they're learning

00:55:31 Workshops in Music Theory Pedagogy series

00:59:50 What else are you up to, now that the book is out?

1:00:00 Where can we follow you?

1:03:18 Wrap-up

 

Transcript:

[music]

0:00:21.2 David Newman: 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 technology with members of the uTheory staff and thought leaders from the world of music education.

0:00:34.5 Gregory Ristow: Hi, I'm Greg Ristow, founder of uTheory and associate professor of conducting at the Oberlin Conservatory.

0:00:40.3 DN: And I'm David Newman. I teach Voice and Music Theory at James Madison University and I write code and create content for uTheory.

0:00:48.7 GR: Thank you, listeners, for your comments and episode suggestions. We love to read them. Send them our way by email at [e-mail] and remember to like us and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

0:01:00.1 DN: Our topic for today is music theory and working memory and joining us to talk about this as well as her new book, The Routledge Companion to Music Theory Pedagogy, is Dr. Leigh VanHandel. Dr. VanHandel is associate professor and chair of the Division of Music Theory at the University of British Columbia. Her primary research areas are music theory pedagogy, music cognition, and the relationship between music and language. Her research is published in Music Perception, the Journal of New Music Research and the Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy. She is co-director with Gary Karpinski of the Workshops in Music Theory Pedagogy program, a week-long summer intensive where teachers can learn from six experts in the teaching of music theory. Leigh, it's an honor to have you join us.

0:01:46.2 Leigh VanHandel: It's an honor to be here. Thank you so much.

0:01:48.6 DN: And especially right after you won this award at SMT for, what is the... The award was for? 

0:01:54.7 LV: Outstanding Multi-Author Collection.

0:02:00.5 DN: