The European String Teachers Association (ESTA) has announced that the deadline for its 2018 Post Graduate Certificate in String Teaching is Friday 2 March 2018.
Developed and run in partnership with the University of Chichester and launched in 2017, the course is for all teachers of bowed stringed instruments and aims to:
- develop practical skills in teaching musical and technical material, fostering an engaging and student-appropriate approach to music learning and performance
- foster an investigative and inquisitive approach to teaching by developing skills in both research and reflection
- actively develop communication skills to enable effective teaching
- develop skills in curriculum planning that are highly relevant in the profession
The course takes one calendar year, beginning in April, and students look at their own teaching technique and develop a broader perspective on teaching, learning and music education in general. An assigned mentor from the ESTA mentor panel leads study sessions and assesses work on this academic course, which is rooted in real teaching. Some of the work takes place at ESTA’s Summer School, which runs from 5-10 August 2018 at the University of Chichester.
There are four units of study:
- Teaching strategies for string teachers: Working with children and young people (15 credits)
- Teaching effective technique for playing bowed stringed instruments (15 credits)
- Learning to play bowed stringed instruments (15 credits)
- Developing effective curricula for string teaching (15 credits)
A further three units focus on:
- safeguarding children and young people in music education
- equality, diversity and inclusion in music education
- promoting children and young people’s positive behaviour
Sarah Crooks, Young Strings Senior Tutor, Royal Northern College of Music, said:
‘Being part of the ESTA PG Cert as a mentor has given me the opportunity to evaluate, research and discuss aspects of teaching with a team of passionate strings teachers. It has been wonderful to sense developments in my own teaching practice as well as helping to guide course participants on their own learning journeys and discoveries. The collective experience and varied approaches of the PG Cert course leaders, mentors and participants guarantee an enriching experience for all.’
For more information and an application form, please click here.
