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socio-cultural Issues

Expanding ensemble repertoire for diversity and inclusion

Phrases such as “the repertoire is the curriculum” have a sense of truth (though I think this is an extremely limited way of conceputalizing curriculum). Here I’m talking about the hidden curriculum, that which students learn through their engagement in school but that educators or schools do not make explicit in written or spoken form. A quick scan through an ensemble program’s repertoire can reveal much about the hidden curriculum that students experience. One way of thinking about the hidden curriculum… Read More »Expanding ensemble repertoire for diversity and inclusion

Rap, rhyme, and rhythm for music teaching and learning

The following Vox video Rapping, deconstructed: The best rhymers of all time, produced by Estelle Caswell, provides an introduction to the ways that rap musicians use rhyme and rhythm in their music and traces changes over time. (NOTE: The video contains language from some of the music that is not appropriate in many school settings). Take a look & listen and consider any connections you might make to existing or potential music curricula:

What implications might this have for music teaching and learning?Read More »Rap, rhyme, and rhythm for music teaching and learning

Supporting transgender and other students communicate through music creation

CNN recently featured a story on Marcelas Owens and her journey from being known as the Obamacare Kid years ago to transitioning as a transgender teen. The story addresses a number of important themes, one of which might not receive as much attention from the media, which is the power that music played in her life.Read More »Supporting transgender and other students communicate through music creation

Robotics to augment musical engagement?

A recent development out of Georgia Tech’s Center for Music Technology demonstrates how robotics can be used to augment live performance. However one feels about this type of technology and its connection to human performance, I find it helpful to think through these types of developments and imagine future scenarios that might relate to or impact music teaching and learning. I’ve written in the past about robots in relationship to music and musical engagement. More recently, in my article Reflecting on… Read More »Robotics to augment musical engagement?

Christmas concerts on Chanukah and considering issues of cultural sensitivity. . .

Around this time of year, the Music Teachers Facebook Group is full of posts about Christmas concerts, religion and music education, sacred music in schools, and associated issues. The majority of the posts often position Christmas as the default holiday during wintertime and focus of concerts that occur this time of year. Some posts or comments even dismiss perspectives that question this focus or admonish students who are uncomfortable with foci on Christmas and related music. I’m left wondering how well music education is doing at addressing issues of understanding, cultural sensitivity, and meaning making in relation to these types of conversations.Read More »Christmas concerts on Chanukah and considering issues of cultural sensitivity. . .