Virtuosity in Teaching

• Published in: The Journal of aesthetic education Vol. 32; no. 4; pp. 1 - 16
• Main Author: Howard, V. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Urbana, IL University of Illinois Press 01.12.1998
• Subjects: Art teachers; Arts; Biology; Computers; Cost Effectiveness; Curricula; Educational personnel; Educational sciences; Failure; Fossilization; Learning; Measurement Techniques; Metaphor; Music education; Music teachers; Musical performance; Opera; Performing arts events; Personality Traits; Philosophy; Private Schools; Standardized Tests; Student Evaluation; Student evaluation of teacher performance; Teacher Effectiveness; Teachers; Teaching; Teaching Methods; Virtuosos; Israel; Teacher; Teaching method; Teaching Practice; Self-Realization; Aims of Education; Teaching
• ISSN: 0021-8510; 1543-7809
• DOI: 10.2307/3333379

Discusses virtuosity of performance as an aspect of teaching practice. The author identifies virtuoso performance as a significant factor in good teaching, but differentiates between classroom and artistic performance in terms of intentions. He cites as examples of virtuosity in art teaching appearances by Kenneth Clark in his television series Civilisation and a series of conversations between the interviewer Bill Myers and the American anthropologist and scholar of mythology Joseph Campbell. He identifies as the main characteristics of the virtuoso teacher the abilities to engage students mentally and emotionally, to help the student internalize a subject, and to impart enthusiasm for their subject while retaining objective integrity, and notes additional characteristics, including unorthodox approaches which contribute to the student's independence of mind and work, and versatility. He concludes by proposing his analysis of virtuosity in teaching as an antidote to stereotypical thought on what constitutes a good or bad teacher and the place of classroom performance in such judgements.