MY TEACHING
Part-Time Music Education
From 1996 to 2015 I have been teaching clarinet, saxophone and ensemble in different music schools.
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Next to my teaching assignment, I also worked as pedagogical coordinator to develop an evaluation system for music schools (see: Nijs 2008).
Higher (Music) Education
Since 2012, I regularly teach as a guest lecturer at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, at LUCA School of Arts (Lemmens) and - since 2019 - at he Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp.
I also gave courses at the Conservatoire of Lausanne and Geneva.
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From time to time I teach at Ghent University (music psychology).
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At UL, I teach Early Childhood Music Education and Academic Writing.
Experimental ateliers
Researching and experimenting has always been part of my teaching. Since my work with the Music Paint Machine, I started to organize experimental ateliers in different (music) schools, trying out new technologies and approaches.
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Movement workshops
Within my research project MiME/KiMuPe, I provide workshops in kinemusical improvisation. In these workshops, participants engage in all kinds activities during which improvisation with movement and music are combined.
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Volunteer work
As a scientist, educator and foremost human being, I want to contribute to society. Music is a way to strenghten society, and at the same time music needs strengthening in society.
A PERSONAL VIEW ON TEACHING
I still remember the moment when I, as a teenager (I was 17), knew I wanted to teach:
watching - or rather experiencing - the movie "Dead Poets Society".
I really connected to many elements on this movie. Just to name a few:
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1) the desire for freedom of thought
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McAllister: You take a big risk by encouraging them to become artists, John. When they realize they’re not Rembrandts, Shakespeares, or Mozarts, they’ll hate you for it.
Keating: We’re not talking artists, George. We’re talking free thinkers.
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