The Artistry of Teaching and Making Music

Reclaiming the Soul of Rehearsal and Music Education

Written by celebrated educator and conductor Richard Floyd, The Artistry of Teaching and Making Music is a passionate call for music educators to prioritize expressive music-making over simple technical accuracy. Drawing from over fifty years of successful teaching experience, Floyd details how to transform rehearsals into deep, emotional, and artistic experiences for students.

Core Pedagogical Themes

• Beyond the Correct Notes: Floyd argues that technical skill is merely the vehicle for artistic expression. A conductor must actively seek the emotional core of a piece and teach students how to communicate it.
• The Teacher as an Artist: Explores the pedagogical craft as an art form, detailing how voice inflections, facial expressions, score knowledge, and rehearsal energy inspire musical excellence.
• Cultivating a Safe Creative Space: Advice on building a classroom culture where students feel secure taking artistic risks, exploring dynamics, and expressing vulnerability.
• Intentional Rehearsal Pacing: Practical techniques for keeping rehearsals engaging and dynamic, using creative analogies rather than dry technical critiques.