LCMS Worship Institute: S1Ep19. Music Learning Theory for Your Parish Music Program – Miguel Ruiz

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How does music pedagogy serve the spiritual purposes of the church? Do cognitive psychology and the processes of language acquisition offer any insight into teaching music in churches? This interactive lecture will explore ideas popularized by music psychologist Edwin Gordon and the resulting pedagogies of his more influential students, and explore how they provide a sensible, practical and research-supported framework for the transmission of musical knowledge through the work of a church musician or teacher. The tenets of Music Learning Theory will be summarized. Practical examples will be given on how it can inform teaching strategies in the church’s many musical mediums.

Bio:

Miguel Ruiz is the cantor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Keller, Texas. He serves as the organist, directs choir and handbells, teaches three choirs in the K–8 school and teaches early childhood music in the preschool. He earned his Director of Parish Music certification through Concordia University, St. Paul (CSP), St. Paul, Minn., and a Master of Music Education from Westminster Choir College, where he studied choral music and pedagogy with James Jordan, Tom Shelton and Frank Abrahams. He enjoys learning about the history of Lutheran sacred music and helping his wife, Ei, chase five children around their Fort Worth home.