Introducing
The Collaborative Learners Series
Paul Hutten has created student centered and student-directed play-based activities that develop listening skills, ear training, beat & rhythm awareness, body percussion, solfege skills, singing games, improvisation, composition, and creative approaches to introducing music literacy. These activities can be used before instruments are assigned, or adapted for use with instruments, or used as warmups or mini lessons throughout the year. The appendix includes many photocopy masters for composition, melodic and rhythmic dictation, and assessment. All activities have been created to encourage teacher and student creative input and expression, and enable culturally responsive pedagogies. The supplemental books (more are coming!) are equally student-centered,and include copy masters for literacy building, ear training, and assessment.
Paul has been teaching instrumental, choral and classroom music for over twenty years in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia. Paul holds
bachelor’s degrees in piano (BAM), organ (BMus) and music education (BMusEd), and masters degrees in English literature (MA) and music curriculum development in education (MEd). Paul currently teaches grades 6-12 music and grade 10 English, but the focus of his career has been developing creative and collaborative ways to develop music literacy in middle school band programs. Paul has worked with the Nova Scotia Department of Education on curriculum renewal teams, and has also been a pilot and implementation teacher. He is the founding director of the Acadia Youth Band, and long time teacher and conductor with Acadia University Summer Music Institute. Paul has also been a church organist and choir director for over twenty-five years, and has taught piano privately for over thirty years. He has raised four children with his wife, Rose, and the entire family can sing “Happy Birthday” in tune.