[See previous post: 2016 GIML Training (2): A Great First Week]
On Saturday, I returned from a fruitful and enjoyable two-week stay in Brookline, Massachusetts, receiving Piano Certification training through the Gordon Institute for Music Learning. I am still processing everything I learned, but am excited to begin sharing about the experience with you all.
As I mentioned in the last post, we were in class from 9:00am-4:30pm each day. It was like being back in school!
Our teachers for this course were Marilyn Lowe, Jennifer Fisher, and intern Janna Olson.
Marilyn is the author of the Music Moves for Piano method, the only piano method to-date that is based on Edwin Gordon’s work.
We spent class time listening to lectures, discussing learning theories, and participating in movement and singing activities.
In the evenings, we studied and read from Dr. Gordon’s tome, “Learning Sequences in Music.” Eating cannoli made the studying even sweeter.
Each day, we were assigned to compose a melody in a particular mode (major, harmonic minor, dorian, phrygian, etc.). The following day, we shared our melodies with the group.
Between the two weeks of training, we found time to explore Boston.
Here we are exploring the Harvard campus in Cambridge.
And here is a group of us enjoying dinner at a classmate’s home nearby. (Thanks for hosting, Rachel!)
Here I am with Marilyn, after receiving certification.
And here I am with my travel buddy, Amy Chaplin of PianoPantry.com.
By the way, Amy and I used Airbnb.com to find a place to stay during the course. This was our first experience using Airbnb, and I can happily say it was a positive one. We stayed in a third story of an old Victorian home. Our apartment was absolutely perfect for us. I definitely intend to use airbnb for future trips.
Here is a group photo of our entire class.
In upcoming weeks and months, I look forward to incorporating what I learned into my teaching. Stay tuned for more on this.
In the meantime, be sure to check out the blog post that Amy just posted with her own summary of our experience in Boston.
Happy weekend, friends!
Update: Read more about Music Learning Theory (MLT) here.
Have you seen the latest issue of 
The last Forum Q&A post was about assignment notebooks/pages for students. It was wonderful to read all the great responses! 
Yesterday, I attend a Teacher Information Session for 
Dr. Andrew Hisey was our presentor. He began the workshop by giving a brief look at the history of TAP and how this collaboration came about. Then he talked about the goal of TAP: to connect people coast-to-coast with a common language and share the celebration of accomplishments. TAP can help people (non-musical or not) recognize certain levels of achievement that our students have reached. TAP in this way can also help unite independent music teachers across the nation.