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Blog: Catalysts & Connections

Music, Expression, Responding to Current Events, Trayvon Martin, & National Music Standards

Music plays numerous important functions in society and as part of the human experience. Merriam (1964), for instance, outlines 10 functions of music. Several functions of music apply to the role that music can play in responding to current events, such as the death of Trayvon Martin, recent acquittal of George Zimmerman and related issues. The following four functions of music hold particular relevance in this context: Emotional expression (including the opportunity to provide people with a variety of emotional… Read More »Music, Expression, Responding to Current Events, Trayvon Martin, & National Music Standards

National Core Arts Standards Public Review: Music and Media Arts for your consideration

The Core Arts Standards are now available for public review. A video orientation helps in providing some background information but you will probably want to take a look at the conceptual framework of the core arts standards as well. It is critical that music educators participate in the public review process, analyze the proposed standards, provide specific feedback and critique, and propose potential alternatives if they are not satisfied with those proposed. It may be helpful to consider concrete examples… Read More »National Core Arts Standards Public Review: Music and Media Arts for your consideration

Composing, songwriting, and producing: Diversifying popular music pedagogy

To Cite or Download the Article: Tobias, E. S. (2013). Composing, songwriting, and producing: Diversifying popular music pedagogy. Research Studies in Music Education, 35(2), 213-237. doi:10.1177/1321103X13487466 My article Composing, songwriting, and producing: Informing popular music pedagogy draws on research from my dissertation and addresses an expanded perspective on creating music in the context of producing music. I make a case for broadening how we discuss and address composing and songwriting to include aspects of producing music and also suggest that… Read More »Composing, songwriting, and producing: Diversifying popular music pedagogy

Philosophical thinking & Music Education: International Symposium on the Philosophy of Music Education IX

If you did not attend the International Symposium on the Philosophy of Music Education (ISPME) IX you can read Roger Mantie’s reflections on the conference. Mantie speaks about the importance of “grappling with big questions” and how ISPME fosters a community where this can occur. Whether or not one attends ISPME, philosophical thinking can occur in our own practice ranging from curriculum development and planning to department meetings and casual conversations while “talking shop.” The field is certainly stronger due… Read More »Philosophical thinking & Music Education: International Symposium on the Philosophy of Music Education IX

Developing the debate for “Assessment on our own Terms” and contributing to related discourse

The article Assessment on Our Own Terms by Samuel Hope and Mark Wait is an important read for music educators and anyone who deals with arts education, assessment, or policy connected to arts assessment or evaluation. The article makes a strong case for staying true to assessment that makes the most sense for music education and leads to improvement and learning. Towards the end of the article, Hope and Wait (2013) address the importance of having a strong foundation in… Read More »Developing the debate for “Assessment on our own Terms” and contributing to related discourse