an advocacy report on a music based curriculum scribd

8/6/2019 An Advocacy Report on a Music Based Curriculum Scribd

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An Advocacy

Reporton a

Music-BasedCurriculum for

Primary Schools


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EDU 260

LEARNING THROUGHTHE ARTS

8TH MARCH 2010

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An advocacy report on a

music-based curriculum

for primary schools

Contents

Report: A music integrated

curriculum Page 4

Parent information

guide Page 9

Appendix Parent Information

guide referenced Page 21

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A Music integrated curriculum

A music-based curriculum is one where music is integrated into all key

learning areas to enhance, aid and increase learning. Music plays an important

role in childhood development, enhancing the growth of cognitive, emotional,

and psychomotor (that is, physical skills such as movement, coordination,

manipulation, dexterity) skills (Sousa. A. 2006) as well as promoting intrinsic

motivation, disciplined work habits and collaboration, all of which are

necessary for lifelong learning and achievement (Corbett 2007 p 329). Using

an arts based curriculum, in particular a music based one, supplies the students

with all the attributes needed to prosper in their future.

Art and Education are both defining elements of a society and or culture. Arts

are integral to a cultures sense of identity; it defines the societies of the world

and the groups within them. Education is what a culture does to ensure the

future of its society, it prepares the younger generation for adulthood. Recent

research is highlighting the potential educational gains of using an arts based

curriculum in our schools. The National Education and the Arts Statement,

published in 2007, introduced the concept that our future society needs

students to learn in ways that prepares them for the rapidly changing times in

which we live. Schools that value creativity lead the way cultivating

citizens that our future demands (MCEETYA 2007).

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Creative problem solving is the process used to construct meaning and is the

basis of art integration in Education. As we move into the conceptual age,

creative problem solving is seen as one of the most important skills sets in the

21st century (Corbett 2007 p17). An arts based education supplies the thinking

and working skills needed in this new age: analysis, synthesis evaluation and

critical judgement. To thrive in the twenty-first century, it is not enough to

leave school with excellent examination results; todays children will be

working in jobs that have not yet been created. They will have to be lifelong

learners- resilient and resourceful, imaginative, creative, logical, collaborative

and inquisitive (Claxton, 2002). Integrating the Arts into education addresses

the key concerns of education- grabbing and keeping the students attention,

motivating students to learn and encouraging problem solving skills as well as

expanding students perspectives (Corbett 2007 pp. 7-8).

The beliefs about the value of a music-based curriculum come from recent

educational and brain research that links music and academic achievement.

(Corbett 2007 p326). Musical activities stimulates multiple parts of the brain

and prepares the brain for more difficult tasks in future years of the students

lives by teaching the brain to work from both hemispheres (Brewer 1995).

Recent research shows that if a childs environment is rich in music their

brains structure will be more complex. Music develops listening skills; the

basis of learning (Corbett 2007 p 329) and through music, the students will

increase their vocabulary, fluency and understanding across all areas of the

curriculum. The use of music in classrooms sets the scene and creates a

learning atmosphere to enhance teaching and learning activities. The use of

music makes the learning process more fun and interesting. 5


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Music helps students learn because it establishes a positive learning state and

creates a desired atmosphere, which enhances creativity and thinking skills

(Thompson 1992). Music energizes learning activities that focusesconcentration and increases students attention. Music improves memory,

facilitating a multisensory learning experience, which enhances imagination,

communication and expressive skills. The use of music in the classroom aligns

student groups and helps in personal and social development, providing

inspiration, motivation and most importantly, it adds an element of fun

(Brewer 1995).

Music, such as Baroque style with its 50-80 beats per minute, stabilizes

mental, physical and emotional rhythms that encourage focus and

concentration (Brewer 1995). Energising music, for example Mozart, can

stimulate students who are showing signs of tiredness can increase alertness.

The regular use of background music, for example the use of a ritual welcome

tune can be used to create a welcoming atmosphere as well as a cue for the

students to move into the learning phase of their day (Brewer 1995). Reflective

music can be used to signal a move to quiet periods of learning as it has been

shown to hold students attention for longer periods than when working with no

music (Brewer 1995).

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Schools and teachers have an obligation to give every child the opportunity to reach

educational success as well as preparing them for a rapidly changing future.

Teachers of today need to set up strategies to encourage students to be independent

lifelong learners with extensive critical and creative thinking skills. Integrating the

Arts, specifically music, into our curriculums has been shown to offer the greatest

chance of successful outcomes for all students. Through an education rich in the

arts we can foster potential across many fields of human activity.

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References

Brewer, Chris. (1995). Music and learning : Integrating music in the classroom.

Tequesta, Florida: Lifesounds. Retrieved from New Horizons:http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/arts/brewer.htm. Accessed 2.03.2010

Claxton, G. (2002). Building learning power: helping young people become better

learners. Bristol: TLO Limited

Corbet,C.E. (2007) Creating meaning through literature and the arts: An Integration

resource for classroom teachers.(3rd Ed) Upper Saddle River: Pearson

MCEETYA (2007) National Education and the Arts Statement. Retrieved from

MCEETYA:

http://www.mceecdya.edu.au/mceecdya/national_education_and_the_arts_stat

ement,20981.html. Accessed 02.03.2010

Sousa, David A. (2006, December 1). How the arts develop the young brain:

neuroscience research is revealing the impressive impact of arts instruction onstudents' cognitive, social and emotional development. The Free Library.

Retrieved March 02, 2010

Thompson, K. P. 1992 Integrating Music into the Curriculum: A Recipe for

Success

NASSP Bulletin, Vol. 76, No. 544, 47-51 (1992)

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Welcome to

Green Class,Early Years- 1/2 class

Parents Information

Booklet.

A Music Based

Curriculum.

Teacher : Miss Jenny

Email: [email protected]


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Welcome to Green

Classroom

The Green classroom is a place where

children can discover their own creative

voice, where they learn about cooperation and

how it feels to make real harmony.

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A Musical Curriculum

Music is fun, and fun is a fundamental

motivation to learn.

Music touches the mind, body, and spirit.

Music is a compelling, meaningful, and

powerful force in our lives.

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What is a music

based curriculum?

A music-based curriculum is one where we

integrate music into all key learning areas to

enhance, aid and increase learning.

Our classroom has been purpose built with a

sound system integrated into the classroom as

well as soundproofing to provide an

environment where music can be seamlessly

introduced throughout the day.

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Why do we have a music

based curriculum?

Music plays an important role in childhood

development, enhancing the growth of

cognitive, emotional, and psychomotor (that

is, physical skills such as movement,

coordination, manipulation, dexterity) skills

as well as promoting intrinsic motivation,

disciplined work habits and collaboration all

of which are necessary for lifelong learning

and achievement.

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based curriculum?

Recent research shows that if a childs

environment is rich in music their brains

structure will be more complex. Music

develops listening skills; the basis of learning

and through music, the students will increase

their vocabulary, fluency and understanding

across all areas of the curriculum.

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based curriculum?

A music based curriculum is ideally suited to

a multi-age classroom as it allows learning to

be accessible all students regardless of

differing levels of ability.

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The use of music in our classroom will set

the scene and create learning atmosphere to

enhance our teaching and learning activities.

In addition, music makes the process much

more fun and interesting!

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How did you learn the Alphabet, are you

singing it in your mind now?

Can you recite a musical scale doh-ray-me-

fah-soh-la-te-doh without hearing Julie

Andrews singing it?

The music accompaniment has made a

memory hook that you have accessed

effortlessly to recall knowledge; these are

both simple examples of how learning will be

intergraded with music this year in our

classroom. 17


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We will be using all styles of music from

Mozart to Rap to Gregorian chants through to

the Sounds of Nature to start our day, to

transition from activities, to relax, to revive as

well as to enhance concentration and learning.

Baroque music will help us reach a deep stage

of concentration for learning vocabulary, facts

and reading. Energizing Mozart music will

assist students in holding attention during

sleepy times of day and helps them stay alert

while reading or working on projects.

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Music, Literacy and

Numeracy

We will be creating and composing songs and

dances to accompany key learning areas to

aid in comprehension.

In the area of maths, we will be setting math-

themed lyrics to popular tunes to help

students memorize essential formulas and

skills.

We will be learning new words by changing

the beginning and or end sounds of known

words to the tune of Hokey Pokey.

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Contacts and More

information

The class based music program is in addition

to the music program that the students attend

twice a week with our schools specialist

music teacher Mrs Bachmann.

To find out more about a music-based

curriculum please visit call or email me for an

interview. For further reading, have added a

selection of sites that have current research

and information on a music and arts based

curriculum to our class web page which is

located on the school web site. 20


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Appendix, Parents information guide

with references.

Welcome to Green Class, Early Years - 1/2 class

Parents Information Book 1.

A Music Based Curriculum.

Welcome to Green Classroom.

The Green classroom is a place where children can discover their own

creative voice, where they learn about cooperation and how it feels to

make real harmony (MENC 2009).


Music is fun, and fun is a fundamental motivation to learn.

Music touches the mind, body, and spirit.

Music is a compelling, meaningful, and powerful force in our lives

(Brewer 2005).


How did you learn the Alphabet, are you singing it in your mind now?

Can you recite a musical scale doh-ray-me-fah-soh-la-te-doh without

hearing Julie Andrews singing it?

The music accompaniment has made a memory hook that you have

accessed effortlessly to recall knowledge; these are both simple

examples of how learning will be intergraded with music this year in our

classroom.

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What is a music based curriculum?

A music-based curriculum is one where we integrate music into all keylearning areas to enhance, aid and increase learning.

Our classroom has been purpose built with a sound system integrated

into the classroom as well as soundproofing to provide an environment

where music can be seamlessly introduced throughout the day

.

Why do we have a music based curriculum?

Music plays an important role in childhood development, enhancing the

growth of cognitive, emotional, and psychomotor (that is, physical skills

such as movement, coordination, manipulation, dexterity) skills

(Sousa. A. 2006) as well as promoting intrinsic motivation, disciplined

work habits and collaboration all of which are necessary for lifelonglearning and achievement (Corbett 2007 p 329).


Recent research shows that if a childs environment is rich in music their

brains structure will be more complex. Music develops listening skills;

the basis of learning and through music, the students will increase their

vocabulary, fluency and understanding across all areas of the

curriculum (Corbett 2007 p 329).

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A music based curriculum is ideally suited to a multi-age classroom as itallows learning to be accessible all students regardless of differing

levels of ability.


The use of music in our classroom will set the scene and create learning

atmosphere to enhance our teaching and learning activities. In addition,

music makes the process much more fun and interesting! (Brewer 1995).


We will be using all styles of music from Mozart to Rap to Gregorian

chants through to the Sounds of Nature to start our day, to transition

from activities, to relax, to revive as well as to enhance concentration

and learning.

Baroque music will help us reach a deep stage of concentration for

learning vocabulary, facts and reading. Energizing Mozart music will

assist students in holding attention during sleepy times of day and helps

them stay alert while reading or working on projects (Brewer 2006).

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Music, Literacy and Numeracy

We will be creating and composing songs and dances to accompany keylearning areas to aid in comprehension.

In the area of maths, we will be setting math-themed lyrics to popular

tunes to help students memorize essential formulas and skills (Prescott

2005).

We will be learning new words by changing the beginning and or end

sounds of known words to the tune of Hokey Pokey (Prescott 2005).

Contacts and More information

The class based music program is in addition to the music program that

the students attend twice a week with our schools specialist music

teacher Mrs Bachmann.To find out more about a music-based curriculum please visit call or

email me for an interview. For further reading, have added a selection of

sites that have current research and information on a music and arts

based curriculum to our class web page which is located on the school

web site.

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References

Brewer, Chris. (1995). Music and learning : Integrating music in the

classroom. Tequesta, Florida: Lifesounds. Retrieved from NewHorizons: http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/arts/brewer.htm.

Accessed 2.03.2010

Corbett, C. E. (2007) Creating meaning through literature and the arts:

An Integration resource for classroom teachers. (3rd Ed) Upper

Saddle River: Pearson.

MENC: The National Association for Music Education: Why Music?

Back to School PSAs for 2009. Retrieved from

http://www.menc.org/resources/view/why-music-back-to-school-

psas-for-2009 . Accessed 02.03.2010.

Prescott , J. O. (2005) Music in the Classroom; Instructor's handy guide

for bringing music into your classroom. Scholastic Instructor:January /February 2005. Retrieved from

http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/instructor/Jan05_music.htm.

Accessed 03.03.2010.

Sousa, David, A. (2006, December 1). How the arts develop the young

brain: neuroscience research is revealing the impressive impact of

arts instruction on students' cognitive, social and emotionaldevelopment. The Free Library. Retrieved from

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/How the arts develop the young

brain: neuroscience research is...-a0156417562. Accessed

02.03.2010

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