THAWZEN Moments: Autoethnographic piano teaching and learning stories [Hardback] by Jeeyeon Ryu

This anthology of autoethnographic stories is an extraordinary collection of creative stories showcasing the ‘epiphanies’ that come from the depth and richness of storytelling. And yet there is more. It is also a collection of ‘epiphonies’ as music itself tells stories that rivet us to new levels of insight. It is an astounding collection to those of us who remember learning to play piano in quite different ways. What is shared here is a creative world of the rich potential of learning to play with children while also learning alongside children. It is an absolute delight to the senses and to the imagination! While focusing on music, it is feast for the senses as poetry, visual art and sound come together, teaching the reader of the importance for all the arts as a support to learning music. This is a remarkable contribution to a field that needs to embrace the importance of learning through play, even in music!

Rita L. Irwin, Ed.D.

Distinguished University Scholar

Professor, Art Education

The University of British Columbia

There are more than a “thawzen” reasons to read the wonderful book you have in your hands. Jeeyeon Ryu’s stories are imaginatively and thoughtfully crafted, based on real life experiences of a brilliant piano pedagogue and her learners. By far, this is the most important book of the 21st century written about any form of pedagogy and young children. Drawing from creative ideas gleaned from learning stories, Dr. Ryu’s beautiful spirit resonates beyond the piano studio to capture ‘ordinary moments’ of learning and teaching that are an inspiration for all educators. Early childhood educators and parents would learn a great deal from Jeeyeon’s sincere, caring, child-centered approach to learning and teaching. This book is a must-read, treasure trove of accessible research—not only for parents and caregivers interested in finding ‘great’ teachers for their child—but for anyone who intends to teach piano, music in general, or any subject in the curriculum. Written in a meaningful, sensitive and humanistic manner, our world would be a better place if all teachers, across the curriculum, genuinely enacted Dr. Ryu’s innovatively artful, pedagogical processes.

Dr. Peter Gouzouasis

Professor, Music Education

The University of British Columbia