Examples of Course Objectives

The main goals and objectives of this course are related to the development of skills and knowledge in the following topics related to the understanding of curriculum and pedagogy in elementary school music education.

1. Elementary Music Pedagogy & Resources 

Contemporary instructional strategies, concrete materials, and children's age-appropriate repertoire for elementary classroom music will be explored. Topics for study in which students will develop knowledge and skills include facilitating in-tune singing, criteria for song collection, teaching a new song, utilizing rhymes, songs, and stories, utilizing singing games and movement, utilizing classroom instruments, utilizing active listening, and teaching musical understanding through beat-rhythm-pitch-dynamics-form-tempo-metre-timbre-harmony-texture-expression, and curricular planning.

2. Language of Music
   The fundamentals of music structure and basic music symbols will be studied in order to enhance the pre-service teacher’s understanding and reading skills with music notation. Topics for study in which students will develop knowledge and skills include beat, tempo markings, meter, dynamic markings, traditional rhythmic symbols, rhythmic syllable names, note names in treble clef, key signatures, scales, borduns, basic chords, misc. expression markings, and instruments of the western orchestra and those found in several diverse musical traditions.
   
   

3. Teacher Musicianship
   Musicianship education in the areas of singing, rhythmic development, and recorder playing forms an active component of the course for the purpose of helping strengthen individuals' confidence as "musician teachers." Students will develop skills in each of these areas. Weekly practice in these areas during class will involve the use of children's song materials.

In this course students will have opportunities to:

• Gain an understanding of the contributions of the visual arts in children’s education.

• Develop their personal abilities for learning and creative expression through artistic engagement with various art media, materials, and equipment.  

• Develop an understanding of the patterns of artistic development in childhood and how they relate to children’s overall development.

• Gain an understanding of the processes of aesthetic responses to their own artwork as well as that of children and professional artists. 

• Consider the realities of classroom art education practices.

  • Curriculum requirements (Alberta & elsewhere.)

  • Development and planning of art activities.

  • Management of art materials and equipment.

  • Motivation, Feedback, Assessment

  • Thematic development across the curriculum.

• To consider the social and cultural issues relevant to arts education in our schools.