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Planning for music classes & ensembles & never feel behind.

Have you ever felt behind in your plans? We dedicate a lot of our time as music educators to planning. How we plan our music classes and ensembles and what a lesson plan from our program looks like says a lot about how we think about curriculum and pedagogy. I’ve never really thought in terms of creating a “lesson plan” even when I was required to write my “lesson plans” out in a green-covered paper planning notebook to be turned… Read More »Planning for music classes & ensembles & never feel behind.

How do you program music for ensembles?

How do you program for ensembles? Jordan Randall Smith posted the following message on Twitter on 12/26/19 (along with some great connected questions): Many conversations about programming in music education tend to focus on the “what” (the repertoire). So, questions about principles and processes are refreshing! I suggest checking out the thread for varied perspectives on programming music. Here are some thoughts regarding programming music for an ensemble in an educational context. Consider these ideas as starting points to expand… Read More »How do you program music for ensembles?

Re-situating Technology in Music Education: Social & Cultural considerations

Tobias, E. S. (2017). Re-Situating Technology in Music Education. In S. A. Ruthmann & R. Mantie (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Technology and Music Education (pp. 291-308). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.   It’s often the case that music educators discuss technology in relation to tools and techniques. My chapter Re-Situating Technology in Music Education in The Oxford Handbook of Technology and Music Education focuses on re-situating technology in relation to social and cultural issues.       Here’s the abstract:… Read More »Re-situating Technology in Music Education: Social & Cultural considerations

Augmenting music teaching and learning with technology and digital media

 Tobias, E. S. (2017) Augmenting music teaching and learning with technology and digital media. In Mantie, R., & Ruthmann, S.A. (Eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Technology and Music Education (431-438). Oxford University Press. The Oxford Handbook of Technology and Music Education [affiliate link] is an excellent resource to learn about the most current thinking on technology and music learning and teaching. The book benefits from diverse perspectives including those that address the possibilities of technology as well as those that provide critical… Read More »Augmenting music teaching and learning with technology and digital media

Making Positive Impact Through Music

Making Positive Impact Through Music Music educators have a role in facilitating responses, music learning and teaching in relation to hate and bigotry occurring throughout contemporary society.  Valerie Strauss suggests that “The first thing teachers should do when school starts is talk about hatred in America” and provides numerous resources for doing so. Music plays an important role in helping people make sense of, meaning, of, and respond to the world. Music programs can play an important role in supporting young… Read More »Making Positive Impact Through Music