Mar 12, 2020
In this interview, I had the privilege of chatting with Dr. Philip Silvey. In addition to being an acclaimed composer and arranger, Dr. Silvey is Associate Professor of Music Teaching and Learning at the Eastman School of Music where he directs the Women’s Chorus and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in music education. Highlights from our conversation include Philip’s ideas on composing, teacher training, student motivation, and assessment strategies.
Topics include:
(02:33) Philip talks about his background as an educator and composer
(12:49) How being a composer influences Philip’s work as an educator
(18:09) Balancing a career as an educator and composer
(27:12) The role of arrangements in repertoire selection
(32:23) Skills needed for teachers entering the profession
(36:43) Student motivation
(47:45) Current challenges in the music education profession
(53:52) The role of assessment in performance based classrooms
(1:01:03) Music advocacy
(1:08:15) Favorite rehearsal tactics
(1:09:59) Why do we teach music?
(1:11:36) Philip discusses leaders that have made an impact on his life
(1:14:18) Advice for music educators
Links:
Philip’s website: https://philipsilvey.com/
Philip’s page at the Eastman School Of Music: https://www.esm.rochester.edu/faculty/silvey_philip/
Bio:
Philip Silvey is Associate Professor of Music Teaching and Learning at the Eastman School of Music where he directs the Women’s Chorus and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in music education. Previously he served as Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education at the University of Maryland where he directed the Women’s Chorus, the Maryland Boy Choir, and the College Park Youth Choir. He has been invited to serve as guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator in numerous states and directed state honors choruses in Maryland, Virginia, New York and New Jersey. He has served as president of the Maryland-DC chapter of the American Choral Director’s Association (ACDA) and as Repertoire and Standards Chair for Women’s Choirs for the New York state chapter of ACDA. He has presented interest sessions at national, regional, and state ACDA and NAfME (National Association for Music Education) conventions. He has contributed to two textbook series, Experiencing Choral Music and Teaching Music through Performance in Choir, Volumes II and III. His scholarly writings have appeared in the Journal of Research in Music Education, Music Educators Journal, Choral Journal, and the Arts and Learning Research Journal. His original choral compositions and arrangements, published by Santa Barbara Music, Carl Fischer, and Boosey & Hawkes, have been performed by all-state and national honors choruses.