From the Stage to the Studio

Book excerpt: An expanded, updated, and improved second edition of an essential book for aspiring teacher-musicians. Whether serving on the faculty at a university, maintaining a class of private students, or fulfilling an invitation as guest artist in a master class series, virtually all musicians will teach during their careers. From the Stage to the Studio speaks directly to the performing musician, highlighting the significant advantages of becoming distinguished both as a performer and a pedagogue. Drawing on over sixty years of combined experience, authors Cornelia Watkins and Laurie Scott provide the guidance and information necessary for any musician to translate their individual approach into productive and rewarding teacher-student interactions. Premised on the synergistic relationship between teaching and performing, this book provides a structure for clarifying the essential elements of musical artistry, and connects them to such tangible situations as setting up a studio, teaching a master class, interviewing for a job, judging competitions, and recruiting students. From the Stage to the Studio serves as an essential resource for university studio faculty, music pedagogy teachers, college music majors, and professionals looking to add effective teaching to their artistic repertoire. This second edition provides readers useful tools for understanding current and ever-changing neurological and behavioral studies of music practice. This edition also features best practice recommendations for online teaching in both individual and ensemble settings, as well as new sections featuring financial advice for independent musicians and self-employed studio teachers. Beyond this, the authors have added practical tips on essential writing and language skills for teaching, planning, self-promotion, job applications, and advocacy. They have also revised the book's discussion of additional training and certification requirements for teaching positions, and provided updated information on professional music teaching associations. Bringing it all together is the second edition's larger format, ideal for including readers' written responses, plus a new user-friendly, worksheet-style grid for cross-referencing sequenced instruction with a variety of learning approaches.