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One of my strengths as an educator is to connect what I teach in music to what my students are leaning in other areas of study. Being intentional about a common focus across disciplinary boundaries often leads to deeper, more meaningful experiences for the learner. Here are some examples of how I regularly achieve this in my practice.
One of my strengths as an educator is to connect what I teach in music to what my students are leaning in other areas of study. Being intentional about a common focus across disciplinary boundaries often leads to deeper, more meaningful experiences for the learner. Here are some examples of how I regularly achieve this in my practice.
ONLINE LESSON COLLABORATION
ONLINE LESSON COLLABORATION
During a period of online learning, the art and music department combined lessons for grades 3 and 4 over two weeks. The 4th graders learned about the abstract painter Kandinsky who often said his art was inspired by associating colors with sound and various musical instruments. They had a chance to create their own musical composition in Google Chrome's MusicLab. 3rd graders explored imagery from Tom Chapin's song entitled "This Pretty Planet" and create their own art that referenced the lyrics.
This project, although a simple way to connect the fine arts disciplines, gave us renewed energy and perseverance at an uncertain time of helping our students learn from a distance.
PRESENTATION
PRESENTATION
In collaboration with the art teachers, the third grade students composed their own musical piece inspired by the paintings of Franz Marc. The students, with a partner, used their artistic eyes and sophisticated aesthetic choices to create a soundscape with barred instruments and percussion.
COLLABORATION With the community
COLLABORATION With the community
Every year in February or March, many people around the world celebrate Carnival, a celebration before a time of fasting for Catholic or Christian people of faith. My students were already discovering what the traditions of Carnival look like in Panama, Puerto Rico and other Spanish-speaking countries, and we were lucky to have another connection when a parent in our community whose family has roots in Brazil was willing to lead a mini-residency in dance, drumming and percussion from Brazil. The students were able to learn layers of rhythms and simple dance steps called axé that made a direct connection to the celebrations of Carnival they were studying in Spanish class. It was also illuminating to connect the music from the South American continent to traditions from West Africa.
The World 1000
The World 1000
Years Ago
Years Ago
Students from grades 3 & 4 studied how different cultures began to meet each other and how they used trading to their advantage. This idea of "contact and exchange" can be closer examined by focusing on the route of the Silk Road through China, India and the Middle East. In music, the possibilities to study pentatonic melodies from China, rhythm exploration from the Indian tradition, for example, or movement and folk dance from any region are quite rich. There is a wonderful opportunity to talk about the similarities between percussion and drums, strings, wind instruments in these regions, as well.
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