This article discusses the curriculum for teaching general music classes at the middle school level. This is a difficult subject because most universities do not include classes on how to teach this level of music instruction. Usually, general level music classes are only for the elementary grades and then for those who elect to choose musical study are split off into the band, choir or orchestra route and are slowly weeded out as they advance through the grades. The article deals with the issues of writing a curriculum for this level and most of the instruction comes from what the teacher can pull through research articles. Usually, teachers end up bringing their own emphasis of how they teach (for example, a band director teaching like a band), or it is primarily run as a music appreciation class. A general level class should be taught primarily as a student-centered learning environment with the material organized around thematic units. The article spends significant time discussing how this is the best method to teach for the adolescents in this age group.
This article greatly helps my understanding of my topic because it helps to start creating the middle ground between elementary and band instructions. Many important ideas are mentioned with how to teach for this age level, and band does not follow them at all.
Gerrity, Kevin W. (2009). Enhancing Middle-Level General Music: Suggestions from the Literature. Music Educators Journal, 95(4), 41-45.
How is middle school music instruction different from other levels?
ReplyDelete-Jorge
It looks like you are making great progress. Make sure you discuss why the authors believes student-centered learning with materil organized around thematic units is most important. This is the material you will use to justify the approach you take in your research.
ReplyDeleteDr. Kirk
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ReplyDeletes there any regulation of how much an influence instructor's preferences can have on the curriculum?
ReplyDelete--Cameron