TTTV065: Composing, Imagination and Creativity in Young Children with Lyndel Kennedy

by Tim Topham in Creativity on November 6, 2016. 2 Comments

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TTTV065: Composing, Imagination and Creativity in Young Children with Lyndel Kennedy

Young kids have wonderful imaginations for storytelling. It’s a big part of how they learn about the world and widen their vocabulary.

So when it comes to music, why don’t we also make use of this gift?

That’s exactly what Lyndel Kennedy was thinking when she created Play-a-Story curriculums. Inspired by her daughter, her resources allow beginning music students to explore the piano through play.

If we allow our beginning students to learn in this exploratory way, we can foster creativity in young children and a lifelong love of music. By not teaching music reading for the first year, Lyndel creates students who don’t have to be told to add musicality and expression – it’s all baked into every piece for them.

Lyndel’s passion for creativity in piano teaching is infectious and inspiring, you’re not going to want to miss this episode.

Transcript

If you’d like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below.

In this episode, you’ll learn

What inspired Lyndel to create Play a Story
Why Lyndel doesn’t teach reading for the first 12 months
What being “musical” means to Lyndel
The simplest place to start with improvisation
How the Play a Story books unfold
How the curriculum works for the teacher
Ways to fit in improvisation after the initial stages

About our Guest

Lyndel Kennedy lives in Perth, Australia with her husband and their four children. She believes in a world where everyone is created to be musical. Her programs have emerged from her rich music and visual arts career spanning graphic design, videography, photography, storytelling, and over 30 years of piano teaching. Her musical journey began as a young child, and included opportunities to play at national level competitions through to directing school musicals and choirs, attending Composition Master Classes with conductor and screen composer Brian May, and conducting international teacher workshops. Lyndel is passionate about encouraging students and teachers, wherever they are on the journey, to express their own musical identity. Find her at InnerMusician.com

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Thank you for Tuning In!

Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you.

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2 Comments

Cathy Hirata Co-Founder The Piano Edge says:

11/13/2016 at 1:35 am

Great interview! I have known Lyndel for many years. She trained teachers at several of my conferences in San Diego, CA. Her brilliance and creativity shine through not only in her program but also in her ability to connect with teachers and train them to bring the best out in their students. If you are thinking of an improv program for your students, this is the one to get. Inner Musician touches students to their core allowing the artist to bloom.

Reply
- Lyndel says:
  
  11/16/2016 at 5:46 am
  
  Hey Cathy. Thank you for your kind words. In fact the little boy I spoke of who picked up the shiny stone and wondered what it would sound like if it was music, was at one of the excellent Teacher Training Events that Cathy runs at The Piano Edge.
  
  ‘Allowing the artist to bloom.’ Love that! Isn’t this what it’s all about. : )
  
  Reply