Steve Giddings
Aside from his regular gig as a public school music teacher, Steve is a regular columnist in the Canadian Music Educator Journal where he writes on topics including popular music education and creativity, and is author of the award-winning book, Rock Coach: A Practical Guide for Teaching Rock Bands in Schools, and Creative Musicking: Practical, Real-Life Ideas to Get Your Learners Creating Their Own Music. He also released his third book called, Technology for Unleashing Creativity, through Oxford University Press.
He has been a long-time advocate for popular music ensembles, creative musical practices, and a conduit for pushing the envelope in music education throughout Canada and across the world. He is owner and operator of StevesMusicRoom.com, a music education blog and resource hub. Follow him on socials @StevesMusicRoom.
-
I am learner-centred and always strive to be sure that folks are getting what they need when they need it. However, I believe that giving teachers and learners authentic-as-possible experiences whatever new skill they learn is important. With the learning of popular music, it is essential that those learners be immersed in a popular music environment. I may ask learners to seek out an open jam in their community and go be a part of that to experience the learning opportunities that provides.
-
I've not done a lot of 1:1 with recurring appointments, but I have had meetings with folks wanting to learn more about popular music ensembles and creativity. I've also been interviewed for podcasts and for class assignments. I've had some experience as a co-operating teacher as well and find that giving folks room to grow and learning on their own is more effective than me telling them how it should be. I am very student-centred with all my work with young people as well as potential teachers and in-service teachers. I think that giving as much hands-on experience as possible is paramount.
-
- acoustic
- arranger
- artist
- arts advocacy
- audio producer
- author
- band director
- chamber music
- choir director
- choral
- clarinet
- classical
- classical music
- classroom
- classroom teaching
- clinician
- collaboration
- college education
- composer
- composition
- concert bands
- conducting
- conductor
- curriculum design
- dei
- digital
- diversity
- drummer
- educatior
- educator
- elementary music
- engineer
- ensemble director
- equity
- experimental
- festival
- festivals
- film score
- flute
- fundraising
- guitar
- guitarist
- healer
- high school music
- inclusion
- instrumental music
- international
- jazz
- jazz bands
- jazz music
- live audio production
- live music
- marching bands
- marketing
- mentoring
- middle school
- modern dance
- music business
- music consultant
- music education
- music educator
- music pedagogy
- music performance
- music teacher
- music technology
- music theory
- musical theater
- musician
- opera
- orchestra
- orchestra director
- pedagogy
- performance
- performer
- piano
- pit orchestras
- popular
- private lessons
- private schools
- producer
- professional development
- program development
- public schools
- R&B
- recording
- rock band
- saxophone
- soloist
- songwriting
- sound design
- string instruments
- studio
- teaching
- teaching career
- teaching experience
- trumpet
- violinist
- vocal
- vocal performance
- youth symphony
