The Musician

Constructivism In Music

Tested and published by Piaget, constructivism is an educational theory that defines learning as when a person gains knowledge from his or her experiences and incorporates this new knowledge into his or her prior knowledge on a subject matter. Active learning and project based learning are the modern day children of constructivism theory. Technology supports the constructivist learning model by serving as a tool for providing engagement between a student and subject matter. When properly used, technology can create active learning. Music recording software is one example of this. When a student creates a song using software, that student experiences music appreciation and music history firsthand. This direct experience teaches a student the fundamentals of music appreciation and aspects of music history.  

Anyone can create music. And numerous studies show that music enhances cognitive development. According to Dee Dickinson in 1991, "It has long been recognized that there is a meaningful connection between artistic abilities and academic abilities, notable in the relationship between musical and mathematical/scientific abilities. In 'Silicon Valley,' California, it has been reported that the top engineers and technical designers are nearly all practicing musicians." Electronic music is an example of how technology can further a music lesson based in constructivism.

Purpose

The purpose of this lesson is to introduce elementary school aged students to music, music song composition, and using a makerspace 3D printer to create an instrument to then create their own original music. 

In this lesson, students will watch a a documentary interview with a working composer who discusses certain basic forms of music and comments on how these forms are used in certain well known movie scores. Through this lesson, students will be able to identify basic concepts of music composition.  In this lesson, students will use a 3D printer made whistle to create a musical instrument and compose a song of their own then record it using a laptop enabled microphone and Google Meet. Students will also have the option to create a live music video through Google Meet. 

 Learning Objectives

1.) Students will be introduced to the concepts of music, music composition, the fundamentals of 3D printing, and the fundamentals of Google Meet.

2.) Students will experience how prior knowledge affects and becomes a part of current and future knowledge.

3.) Students will experience how their cognitive development can take place through hands on learning processes and from a constructivist style of teaching.