TEACHING UNLEASHED, with Lea Pearson

TEACHING UNLEASHED

In conversation with with Lea Pearson, creator of “Music Minus Pain”.

Last week, Lea Pearson hosted a virtual open house for her online program, “Teaching Unleashed”. She shared her journey with hand numbness and discussed a new teaching program focused on physical technique and body awareness for musicians.

I joined the discussion and shared my experiences teaching young flutists, including challenges with instrument setup as well as (at the other end of the age range) managing arthritis through alternative methods.

The conversation explored various teaching strategies and challenges, emphasizing the importance of emotional support, somatic approaches, and physical awareness in music education.

We highlighted a growing awareness in music education about the need to address physical health and body mechanics alongside traditional musical instruction.

Here’s the youtube link to our chat:
https://youtu.be/frSJycUgkwQ

Here’s the breakdown in more detail:

Challenges in Teaching Young Flutists

I discussed the challenges I face teaching young flutists, including instrument setup issues like U-bend head joints and inappropriate chair sizes.

We also talked about how to deal with arthritis in the fingers and shared my approach to managing it through Naturopathy and supplements.

Emotional Support in Music Education

We discussed the importance of fostering collaboration and emotional support in music education, particularly for young students.

We emphasized the need for teachers to listen without judgment and validate students’ emotions, as well as to help students connect their feelings to their physical experiences.

We chatted about how one of my students overcame frustration and how important it is to provide a safe space for the kids.

Teaching Strategies

We explored ideas for helping students learn right-left discrimination and other foundational skills including somatic approaches and embodied learning.

I shared my experience of using imaginative exercises and physical guidance. Lea emphasized the importance of helping students internalize learning through physical experience, noting that teaching music involves complex neurological tasks that can overwhelm students if not approached gradually.

We discussed teaching methods, particularly for beginning flute students. We explored ways to simplify instruction and help students build confidence by focusing on small, manageable tasks and encouraging physical awareness.

Student Engagement

We talked about how to manage difficult students and how group dynamics can affect that.

Technique

Remember to ask students questions in order to help them discover solutions on their own.

We also discussed how hand position affects the entire arm and body.

Swivel Thumb Rest

I showed my latest swivel thumb rest gadget and we chatted about other solutions to adapting flutes in various ways.

Here’s the Ton Kooiman Prima Thumbrest – it swivels!