Thank you all!

A good point, 1stimestar.  Since you reminded me, I ordered myself an A 440 tuning fork to keep in my violin case as a memento of the occasion. 

I'll probably also print out the pdf "Statement of Accomplishment" I got for passing the course and frame it to have a reminder that I did a bit more than "just" practice in 2014 in my efforts to learn this dang instrument.  Good way to start 2015.

Thanks MrYikes.  But I think it will be a while before I'd be "taking on students", since I want to get my own playing down better first.  I mean, what's the point of taking lessons from anyone unless they can do *well* at the things you want to do?  LOL

My "student" at this time is me. 

Sure, ElisaDalViolin. 

Actual written assignments, there were only a couple of those and they were very short, and graded by peer review. 

There was a quiz every week, that was no problem if you actually watched the lecture videos and such. 

For me, the big time/work element was the forum participation.  Every week we had to make 5 forum posts.  That sounds easy, but I found it a bit challenging to manage because with the large number of people taking the class, it seemed like almost every pertinent post I could think of, someone else was already doing.  So it resulted in a lot of forum reading, and looking for someplace to say something worth saying, when a lot of the people taking the class were already experienced teachers and knew more than I did.

I typically put in probably 4-5 hours a week on those activities, plus a 1 hr weekly session with my "guinea pig practice students", who were one of my daughters and an old friend that played student for me so I could explain and coach them through the techniques. 

Having "practice students" was recommended, but not actually required.  I found it great for the first few weeks, but after that the material being covered went a ways past what they could do, since the material and techniques and repertoire were obviously meant to cover the first few years.  So those sessions dropped off a little before the halfway mark, but getting some practice in coaching a couple people through hold and basic moves and very easy beginner pieces was very good for my own retention. 

Another optional but encouraged activity was google hangout sessions once a week to get to ask questions from the teacher and guests.  My schedule only worked out for being able to attend "live" for a couple of those, but they were archived so if you couldn't make it, you could at least watch.

There were also a few handouts on basics, and usually around three exercises or pieces a week that could be downloaded.  Over 10 weeks, that amounted to a pretty nice stack of freebie score. 

Now if what you were wanting to know is more about the style/methodology itself for teaching, it used a lot of hand-over-hand demonstration so the student can get the feel of how each move should feel, a good bit of fun/silly games and exercises in the early stages, different ways (clapping, stamping a foot, and playing) to work out and internalize more complex rhythms.  Not a lot of theory.  It was obviously assumed that people taking the course would know basic theory and be able to read music, but that it wouldn't be assumed with their students.  The focus was more on teaching playing techniques and some repertoire than theory.  It did depend a bit on learning to read and memorize pretty early since that would be the usual goal with typical music students, but pretty much everything could be at least adapted to by-ear learning.

So yeah, I could see where it definitely could be usable in a music therapy context.  I recall a fair number of discussions in the class forums about therapeutic applications, and I was in some discussions on how to teach students with disabilities (personal interest, since I have an autistic son and grandson).

If that doesn't cover what you're asking about, feel free to ask away.  I'll answer or give more detail where I can.

coolpinkone said
Congrats Dan... I will have to log on to see if I passed!!  Woo hoo I loved the class.

Thanks Toni!

Yeah, I loved that class too.  If they offer it this year, I hope to take it again.  It's probably a little different every time, and with different guest speakers and such.

I feel it did help a lot with the feeling that I didn't know what I was doing on violin/viola, and was just sort of mindlessly practising.  At least now I have some idea what I'm trying to do and what order to work on things in, and what to watch in my posture, hold and technique.

It was some work, but fun.  Who knows, if they offer it again, maybe we can get a "crew" from here for taking the class with a good moral support system!