d. THE EXPERIMENT
I worked with two adult beginners, designing lesson plans with clear learning goals focused on developing foundational aural skills. In the first cycle, the lessons were primarily structured around these core skills, while in the second cycle, they were further guided by the “sound, symbol, name, and instrument” model (Konings, Militello, Grijpink, & Wisse, 2020), putting the focus on the interaction between sound and instrument—seeking the most immediate yet meaningful connection between the two. This added a more integrated dimension to the learning process. Each lesson plan includes a reflection, allowing me to assess progress, adapt strategies, and deepen my understanding of the learning process of the student.
Throughout the process, Bastiaan van der Waals acted as my critical friend, offering thoughtful feedback and analysis of most interventions, guided by questions I posed. Below, I present two reports—one for each cycle—highlighting the main developments and observations. This is followed by a synthesis of key insights gained from these piano lessons, particularly in relation to the development of playing by ear.