It means much more practical hands on lessons with an emphasis on being creative.
Students are being given the opportunity to explore given pieces of music practically by moving to it or responding with an instrument or coming up with their own ways in which we may never have thought of before.
If you'd have walked into the music department this year you could have seen dancing or lying on the floor with eyes tightly closed or finger puppet conversations as well as more 'traditional' methods.
Students are being asked to study 12 given set works throughout the program and respond in a variety of ways as a listener and they are also asked to really get inside what it is like to be a composer. What is it like from the point of a musician - from you as the musician's point of view.
Students are being asked to invest and grow a particular skill set where performance features heavily. The Juilliard programme uses a PALA assessment system 'Performing Arts Learner Ambitions' in order to teach desirable skills that can prepared students for all walks of life. It is felt widely that 'performing' is a very important skill as many of us perform on a daily basis when giving talks or lectures in front of a group of people and it benefits us not to be nervous, something that we are really trying to help the students with.
Alongside active creative lessons and transferable skill learning our students are also getting amazing oppotunity after amazing opportunity where lots of talented ex-Juilliard performers come in and speak with the children and perform for them. That is very special and I don't think you'd find opportunities like this very easily again.
We've adored working with them this year and hope our relationship continues to blossom next year.