Dr. Erik Johnson, Colorado State University associate professor of Music Education, was honored to contribute his expertise to Teaching Instrumental Music: Contemporary Perspectives and Pedagogies, edited by Bryan Powell, Kristen Pellegrino, and Quincy Hilliard from Oxford University Press.
Press Description:
Teaching Instrumental Music: Contemporary Perspectives and Pedagogies reflects the music pedagogy of recent years while acknowledging traditional instruments and styles. Written by a diverse, expert team of 47 authors, the text covers both the teaching of individual instruments and the teaching of instrumental ensembles. It can serve as the sole comprehensive text to accompany any instrumental music education class, including concert band, jazz band, marching band, strings, and popular music.
Based on the latest methods and theories in music education, Teaching Instrumental Music offers rich information for those who will be working with student and community groups in a wide variety of classical, popular, rock, jazz, and world music styles.
Johnson co-wrote his contribution, “Peer-Assisted Learning in the Instrumental Music Ensemble,” along with CSU alumna Christina Herman (M.M. Music, '21).
Herman said, “I have been fortunate to collaborate with Erik on a number of projects, including co-writing this chapter, and I learn something new from him every time.” She noted it was fun discussing and puzzling different ideas out with Johnson. “This book is meant to be an accessible resource for music educators to reflect on traditional pedagogical approaches while also considering meaningful ways to meet the increasing needs of those teaching and learning in diverse contexts,” said Herman.
Herman found that the in-residence graduate music education program managed to strike a similarly wonderful balance between theory and practice. “As a graduate student, I was exposed to foundational literature and contemporary research that helped me further develop my scholarly work. As a graduate teaching assistant, I had the opportunity to apply what I was learning while helping undergraduate music education students develop their teaching skills,” said Herman.
Herman noted that one of the most important takeaways from her time at CSU was the development of long-lasting relationships with her fellow cohort of graduate students and the support that faculty provided. “Ultimately, those connections and relationships lead to meaningful collaborations like this one,” said Herman.
Dr. Erik Johnson
Johnson, who directs the CSU Middle School Outreach Ensembles and Trying-on-Teaching programs, shared information from his research, which he has presented worldwide. His contributions included information on curriculum development, peer-assisted learning, collaborative learning, and instructional design.
“This book is the new industry standard, filling a gap that hadn’t been addressed this comprehensively. It is user-friendly, boiling down a lot of heady concepts,” Johnson said.
Other contributors included the Chair of Music Education at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and CSU Alumni Michael Hopkins. Johnson said, “It was an honor to appear alongside brilliant minds such as Michael Hopkins, Cynthia Wagoner, and Kristen Pellegrino.”
More Information
First Edition
Edited by Bryan Powell, Kristen Pellegrino, and Quincy Hilliard
Publication Date: 31 August 2023
ISBN: 9780190099725