Teaching Creatively and Teaching for Creativity

Brinkman, D. J. (2010). Teaching creatively and teaching for creativity. Arts Education Policy Review,
111(2), 48-50.
1.) What are the key points of this reading?
focus is related to both teaching creatively and teaching for creativity in terms of music teacher
preparation
good teacher must combine musical artistry with the artistry of teaching: the glue that holds those
two ideas together is the concept of creativity

There is a difference between Big C and little c creativity: Big C creators are those composers
that are icons in our study of music and little c, or ordinary creativity; often intimidated by big
C and cant reach little c

Creativity happens when expertise, creative thinking skills, and motivation overlap

Often thought to be impossible to teach someone to be creative but it is possible to teach people
to approach their jobs or their study with creativity in mind

We can model creativity through our own performing, composing, conducting and writing but
this does not necessarily influence students to be creative themselves

Ensemble directors often teach students to be the same; although these are worthy goals for
ensembles approaching teaching with creativity in mind makes us think how students are
different

Creativity is approaching situations in new ways not just the way used by the students teachers

Teaching creatively can keep us (teachers) interested in our teaching and keep the attention of our
students

Leave room for unplanned and unpredictable goals to develop

Amabiles three-part model:

Expertise

Motivation

Creative thinking skills

Sternberg three-facet model of creativity:

o

Intellect

Intellectual style

Personality

Kratus:
o

Encourage teachers to teach creatively and teach for creativity in their students

Resist the notion that standardized test will answer all our problems in education

Work on creativity in various aspects of college music education so they have the tools to
be the creative teachers of the future

2.) Your reactions to this: what surprised, interested and/or frustrated you and why?
It frustrated me that teachers are not implicating the creative aspect of education into their
pedagogy. Since creative teaching takes more thought and is a little but more experimental, I feel as
though teachers are being lazy and sticking to the books even though they have the tools to teach
this way.
3.) What would you like to say to the author and why?
I think that the author approached this article in a very interesting way. I like how she gave
opinions from all different teachers to show the different views and ways of teaching creativity. Very
well written and easy to follow.