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Blog: Catalysts & Connections

Study Music Teaching and Learning at ASU Summer Music Institute 2016

The music education department at Arizona State University is known for its diverse offerings and attention to contemporary issues in music education. Our Summer Music Institute offers additional opportunities for music educators and teaching artists to gain professional development and be part of a wonderful teaching and learning community. Take a look below at our full list of 2016 summer offerings:

The ASU Summer Music Institute is flexible around music educators’, teaching artists’, graduate or undergraduate students’ and community members’ needs and summer schedules by addressing a large number of interests in varied increments of 1 week, 2 week, and 3 week courses for graduate credit or non-degree/non-credit professional development clock hours (CEUs). Read More »Study Music Teaching and Learning at ASU Summer Music Institute 2016

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

EDM producing for music teaching and learning

Do you ever watch videos that feature musicians sharing their creative process? I find that listening to musicians speak about their music in connection with sonic examples helps expand the ways I think about and know music. It is also interesting to consider the format itself as a model for music learners to reflect on their own processes and share with others. This can serve as a great component of formative or summative assessment in learning contexts.

Consider the following video featuring Joel Thomas Zimmerman AKA Deadmau5 and Steve Duda discussing Deadmau5’s Imaginary Friends (hosted by Razer Music):

https://youtu.be/YpeaTCd3RZ4

How might this connect to or inform music teaching and learning?

Here are just a couple of thoughts I jotted down as I watched the video (and I am curious about yours as well!):Read More »EDM producing 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

Wayne Shorter’s and Herbie Hancock’s open letter to artists

Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock recently wrote an open letter to artists that is definitely worth a read and would be worth sharing with students. It is particularly appropriate for students in that it is addressed to the next generation of artists on how to respond to recent global events and contemporary society. Whatever students’ plans for the future, the suggestions could serve as organizers or starting points for projects in music ensembles or classes. Much of what Wayne Shorter and Herbie… Read More »Wayne Shorter’s and Herbie Hancock’s open letter to artists