The amazing thing about teaching kids with their listening as the primary organizing skill is that when they play for an audience their listening is even better - more focused. Also, it seems almost miraculous that when they are used to being truly heard as they play, they listen to one another with that same model at work for them. Their playing, as a result, surpasses their actual "technical" level.
I am told that this is consistent with social learning theory, about which I know nothing except what I practice in my piano studio. It works.
