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Teaching general music: Approaches, issues, and viewpoints

The feelings and perspectives that surround “general music” in music education range from the excitement of those who teach or experience it to curiosity or puzzlement from those who do not. Many people frame general music as an elementary school phenomenon that features recorders, Orff instruments, singing, and teaching approaches such as Orff, Kodaly, and Dalcroze. Others are at a loss when trying to figure out what they might do in a general music setting.

The newly published book (affiliate links included) Teaching General Music: Approaches, Issues, and Viewpoints, edited by Carlos R. Abril and Brent M. Gault is an excellent starting point for deepening and expanding one’s understanding of what General Music can be and how to go about teaching this type of music course. Teaching General Music is sure to serve as a foundational text for anyone who teaches or might eventually teach general music.

teachinggeneralmusic

In full disclosure, I have a chapter in the book. This is currently the most comprehensive and up to date look at general music in music education. Many of those who read Teaching General Music will benefit by expanding their understanding of general music, the variety of approaches to facilitate musical engagement and learning in the context of general music, and the possibilities for young people across elementary and secondary settings. 
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Flipping the misogynist script: Gender, agency, Hip Hop, and music education

Tobias, E. S. (2014). Flipping the misogynist script: Gender, agency, Hip Hop, and music education. Action, Criticism and Theory for Music Education, 13(2), 49-84. In my article Flipping the misogynist script: Gender, agency, Hip Hop, and music education I make a case for including Hip Hop in music programs through a critical media literacy framework and providing students diverse opportunities to address socio-cultural and musical issues through related musical engagement. In particular I address issues of gender and agency as… Read More »Flipping the misogynist script: Gender, agency, Hip Hop, and music education

TMEA 2014

I am looking forward to attending and presenting at this year’s Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Conference. The last time I attended TMEA I spent the majority of the conference working on a special project involving improvisation, composition, and varied electronic instruments with the symphonic band.  This time I’ll be presenting the following sessions: 1) Preparing to Teach Toward 21st-Century Musicianship; 2) Project-Based Learning & Development for Deep Musical Understanding; 3) Integrating Contemporary Music Creation in Music Programs; 4) Addressing Popular… Read More »TMEA 2014

Toward Convergence: Adapting Music Education to Contemporary Society and Participatory Culture

Tobias, E. S. (2013). Toward convergence: Adapting music education to contemporary society and participatory culture. Music Educators Journal, 99(4), 29–36. doi:10.1177/0027432113483318 The digital supplement providing examples of the varied musical practices I discuss in the article. (Also available on the NAfME Bonus Content website). Also included in the same issue of the MEJ is: A thoughtful and nuanced response written by Thomas Regelski. My condensed response to Regelski’s response as published in the MEJ. A complete response is available on… Read More »Toward Convergence: Adapting Music Education to Contemporary Society and Participatory Culture

Happy Anniversary SoundCheck & John Schaefer!

I just found out, thanks to Justin Davidson, about the 5th year anniversary of the WNYC radio program Soundcheck. Congratulations are definitely due to John Schaefer (the host) and the Soundcheck crew, for an excellent radio show. I have Soundcheck to thank for inspiring several general music lessons I taught and can think of countless excerpts of episodes that could generate interesting discussions in a music class. No worries if you don’t live within the broadcasting range of WNYC, the… Read More »Happy Anniversary SoundCheck & John Schaefer!