If You Cant’t Teach Yourself, No One Can

Abstract Book of the 8th World Conference on Education and Teaching

Year: 2025

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If You Cant't Teach Yourself, No One Can

Timna Mayer

ABSTRACT:

This paper explores the vast potential of self-directed
learning in violin pedagogy. Based in practice and drawing on
concepts from neuropsychology, the author, a violinist and teacher,
outlines five learning principles. Self-directed learning is defined as an
ongoing process based on problem detection, definition, and
resolution. The traditional roles of teacher and student are reimagined
within this context. A step-by-step guide to applied self-directed
learning suggests a model for both teachers and students that realizes
student independence in the classroom, leading to higher-level
understanding and more robust performance. While the value of self-
directed learning is well-known in general pedagogy, this paper is
novel in applying the approach to the study of musical performance, a
field which is currently dominated by habit and folklore, rather than
informed by science.

Keywords: Neuropsychology and Musical Performance, Selfdirected-directed Learning, Strategic Problem Solving, Violin Pedagogy