CQUniversity Unit Profile.

Task: Feature Article on Best Practices in Studio Music Teaching

You have been tasked with writing a Feature Article for Studio Teacher’s Digest, an education magazine, on best practices for studio music teachers. To inform your article, you must interview a studio music teacher in your community (or online) to gain insights into their perspectives on various aspects of music teaching.

Using this information, you will write a well-balanced and informative article that demonstrates your understanding of studio music teaching, integrates diverse perspectives, and critically analyses expert insights. The article must demonstrate academic rigour through critical analysis, use of relevant literature, and reflective engagement with expert practice. Your analysis should be informed by relevant music education and studio pedagogy literature (e.g., feedback, motivation, assessment, technology, or learner-centred teaching).

Interview Guide

Students will be provided with a structured interview guide containing set questions, available on the Moodle assessment page.

Process and Presentation

Word count: 2,500 words

Steps to Complete the Task:

• Conduct the Interview
• Identify and organise an interview with a studio music teacher.
• Record the interview for accuracy and reference.
• Analyse the Interview
• Review your recording and notes, reflecting on the teacher’s opinions and insights.
• Compare their perspectives with your own understanding of best practices in studio teaching.
• Summarise the teacher’s views
• Write a concise summary of the teacher’s responses, highlighting key points.
• Incorporate direct quotes or key insights to support your summary.
• Present your own perspective
• Discuss your views on best practices in studio teaching.
• Use evidence and arguments to support your position.
• Reflect on how your perspectives align with or differ from those of the interviewed teacher.

Submission:

You must upload:

• Word document (docx.)
• Recording of interview. (.mp3 or .mp4)

*Interviews MUST be one-to-one (i.e. in-person interviews or zoom/online) Video recording is preferred. In some instances participants may not wish to be filmed. If so, an audio recording will be accepted.

Assignment format:

· Use 12 point Times New Roman font for the body of the essay.

· 1.5 spacing throughout

· You may use sub-headings if you wish to organise your assignment in areas.

· Include in-text references (citations) throughout the assignment.

· Include a Reference List at the end of the assignment in APA style, 7th edition. (Minimum 6 references)

*The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations

AI Assessment Scale: Level 2

You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Please note: The 72-Hour grace period applies to Assessment item 1

If you need longer than 72 hours, you'll still need to use the normal Assessment Extension System process.

• Clearly describes teaching philosophies and how they can inform private music tutoring (10%)
• Discussion on the assessment of skill level and learning styles of students (5%)
• Describes approaches to planning and organising lessons (5%)
• Quality of discussion and argument relating to providing feedback to students (10%)
• Discussion on how to evaluate student progress (5%)
• Demonstrates a professional and proactive discussion to problem-solving and conflict resolution (10%)
• Discussion of how technology can support student learning and engagement (10%)
• Discusses strategies on how to communicate with parents or guardians about their child's progress (10%)
• Describes how to stay current and updated on teaching techniques and music industry developments (10%)
• Overall structure, grammar, spelling and presentation of opinion piece (12.5%)
• Evidence of wide reading & referencing system precision (12.5%)

Task:

You will demonstrate your understanding and application of various teaching methodologies by developing a portfolio of lesson plans for a beginner student in a one-to-one studio teaching environment. This task requires you to integrate strategies from multiple teaching approaches (e.g., Suzuki, Orff, Kodály, Dalcroze) to create a well-rounded and adaptable lesson plan structure. Students should demonstrate purposeful integration of methodologies, rather than treating each approach as isolated or interchangeable.

Length: 2000 words

Prepare a portfolio of lesson plans suitable for a beginner student in their first year of study.

• You may focus on any instrument or voice, and any age group.
• State the teaching methodologies/ and specific strategies chosen (Suzuki, Orff, Kodaly or Dalcroze).
• Give the intended age of the beginner student at the start of the assignment.

Possible scenarios:

• Learning the notes of an instrument
• Reading basic rhythms
• Teaching basic instrumental/vocal techniques
• Learning repertoire

This portfolio will consist of two parts:

Part 1: Five lesson plans

• Create five distinct lesson plans suitable for a beginner student in their first year of study, incorporating specific teaching methodology strategies from multiple approaches (lesson duration 30 minutes)
• For each lesson, develop a template that articulates the lesson layout/schedule. (Examples found on moodle site)
• The lesson plans should articulate the lesson format. This may include activity titles, learning objectives, resources/materials, lesson outline information.
• Include any teaching resources/materials/activities as an Appendix.

Part 2: Written Justification

• For each lesson provide an explanation of the challenges that the student will face when learning the material/concepts and a discussion on how to meet those challenges.
• Justify the choice in material used in the lesson (exercises/concepts/musical pieces) in relation to the chosen methodology
• Provide a clear justification on how you used different aspects/strategies from different methodologies to achieve your learning/teaching goals. 
• To support your justification, you must refer to published books or journal articles on these topics. This will involve some direct quotations as well as information that you paraphrase into your own words. Always use in-text references and include these in your reference list.

Assignment format:

• Use 12 point Times New Roman font for the body of the essay.
• 1.5 spacing throughout
• You may use sub-headings if you wish to organise your assignment. These may be in a different colour or different size font.
• Include in-text references (citations) throughout the assignment.
• Include a Reference List at the end of the assignment in APA style, 7th edition.
• You should have a minimum of 10 references for this assignment
• Do NOT cite from Wikipedia or other websites that do not have an acknowledged author.
• Include in your reference list all music scores used, media, Youtube sources, as well as books, academic journal articles, and articles from Oxford Music Online.

AI Assessment Scale: Level 2

You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Please note: The 72-Hour grace period applies to Assessment item 1

If you need longer than 72 hours, you'll still need to use the normal Assessment Extension System process.

Assessment Criteria

• Logical teaching plan that is appropriate for the age group and teaching scenario (10%)
• Pedagogical issues have been addressed using the chosen methodologies (15%)
• Understanding and application of the chosen methodologies (15%)
• Support materials provided clearly support the teaching plan (10%)
• Detailed analysis and justification of methods used to meet these challenges for each lesson of the portfolio (20%)
• Ability to write clearly and logically (15%)
• Correct spelling, grammar, punctuation and clear lay-out (5%)
• Correct use of APA style for the in-text referencing and reference list (10%)

Task:

Using free website development software (links provided on the Moodle site), create a website for a real or imaginary music teaching business that involves you as the centre of the business. 

Examples of music teaching businesses could be:

· Studio teaching business (face to face)

· Virtual studio business (online lessons)

Incorporation of all elements in the music teaching business website will include:

· Overview of the music teaching business

· Teaching philosophy/methodology

· Services provided

· Contact details

· Information on lesson prices/content purchasing

· Relevant policies

· Biography

· Photos & videos

· Other media

· The website is easy to navigate

· Accuracy of spelling and grammar

Submission Requirements:

Your assessment must be submitted as a Microsoft Word Document (.docx) and:

• Provide a link to access the website on the Word document
• Provide your name and student number on the Word Document.

AI Assessment Scale: Level 2

You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Please note: The 72-Hour grace period applies to Assessment item 1

If you need longer than 72 hours, you'll still need to use the normal Assessment Extension System process.

· Appropriate overview of the music teaching business (12.5%)

· Evidence of teaching philosophy/methodology (10%)

· Appropriate contact details (2.5%)

· Appropriate information on lessons/products/services (15%)

· Clarity of relevant policies (20%)

· Inclusion of biography (2.5%)

· Appropriate photos & videos and other media (10%)

· The website is easy to navigate (10%)

· The website design is considered and appropriate (12.5%)

· Accuracy of spelling and grammar (5%)