Bauer

In Bauer's Music Learning Today, Project-Based Learning is "...an approach to instructional design that operationalizes contemporary learning theories...".  He further explains this through 8 elements.
1) focus on significant content that is derived from the standards and other concepts that are central to a discipline
2) develop 21st century skills such as creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration
3) engage students in in-depth learning where they ask questions, utilize pertinent resources, and ultimately come to conclusions 
4) are organized around an essential question, which is often ill-structured and open-ended
5) motivate by helping students understand their need to have the knowledge, concepts, and skills that will be necessary to complete the project
6) allow students freedom to make choices in how they approach the project, an element that will vary according to the developmental level of the students and their previous experience with PBL
7) include opportunities for students to receive feedback in order to revise and reflect on what is being learned
8) present students to an audience beyond classmates and the teacher
These 8 points are very important because as a teacher you always want your students to stay engaged and excited in and outside of the classroom.

Backward Design is a teaching tactic that when you start a concept you have the end in mind.  Bauer mentions the three stages of backward design. 
1) learning outcomes
2) means of assessment
3) activities and structural procedures
I find this useful as an educator because it is important that I view my students as individuals rather than a group.  Each student will have individual needs and if you plan ahead then you should be more efficient.  
Technology differentiates students paths to success.  Differentiation helps students have a more individualized and personalized path.  In a performance ensemble differentiation can help bring different expressive elements to the creative process when figuring out the emotion of a piece. In an innovative music learning setting differentiation can help students and teachers learn from each other from different viewpoints and possibly different ways of looking at things.  

Learning is defined by Bauer to be contextual, active, social, and reflective. Learning is contextual  as stated by Bauer: "Students make sense of new material in terms of the context within which it is presented, which is informed by their prior knowledge of the topic." (147) The most important part is that they have prior knowledge. Learning is active because people learn by creating and making their own ideas..  Learning is social because you can talk to your professor or colleagues. Learning is most effective in the transactional rather than linear model; instead of being lectured at, having a conversation about the topic. Learning is reflective because once you reflect on a topic you can begin to apply it. ​