![]() For example: Teach basic improvisational skills ![]() Try to teach skills and concepts that will stoke the fire of self-discovery at home. ![]() “No one goes through the day without engaging in music in some way, and we are trying to change what is considered appropriate in music education,” said Williams, “Why can’t we discuss hip hop or R&B in a classroom setting?” Four Simple Ways to Engage Music Students Tastes vary widely, and it can be a daunting task to execute an educational and cohesive curriculum that’s engaging and responsive to individual interests.Īlum Ryan Williams (Photo by Chris O’Brien/USC Thornton)įor USC Thornton alumni Ryan Williams, engaging his students means scouring the internet for film scores and catering to his students’ interests. You can’t force music on an unwilling student. Music is a gift, but it’s one that has to be readily accepted by the giftee. Many music teachers have the extraordinary opportunity to have a meaningful impact on their students’ musical journeys and keep their minds in healthy shape. Courses in the Music Teaching & Learning program address many of these issues. ![]() Students in Thornton’s Music Teaching & Learning program took classes in the Rossier School of Education to learn skills for teaching diversity. A genuinely inclusive classroom is one that is respectful of present diversity, adapts to the needs of all learners, and provides opportunities for collaboration between students. Inclusivity goes beyond the range of musical genres. “If schools offer wider musical options, music education will be transformed to better meet the needs of the contemporary world.” “Great orchestras, choirs, and bands have been a hallmark of fine music education, but if you offer keyboard, guitar, and songwriting classes in addition to the classic repertoire, a wider variety of students’ musical needs are met,” said Robert Cutietta, Dean of USC Thornton. A contemporary music teacher should be able to pivot from leading a jazz ensemble in the morning to teaching a world music lesson in the afternoon, to directing an after-school rock band. As an educator, inclusivity and versatility go hand in hand. Inclusivity in a contemporary music classroom means engaging students of all learning styles, backgrounds, and ability levels. Jim Wang (left) leads a ukulele lesson with Sophie Christmas, at Lincoln Middle School in Santa Monica. “Students have this powerful DAW system in their hands,” said Wang, “You show them how it works, and they’re off on their own.” That’s why Thornton alum Jim Wang uses accessible technology to teach production and composition skills with GarageBand for iOS. Some music technology can be prohibitively expensive, and it doesn’t do much good if students can only use it when they’re at school. Tools like GarageBand, Logic, Pro Tools, or Ableton Live are also possible, not to mention a wealth of free music composition apps available to students and teachers. Many students jump at the chance to learn production and composition using cloud-based DAW apps like Soundation and SoundTrap. Digital Audio Workspaces (DAW) are a particularly popular resource to incorporate. Today’s students are the most technologically literate generation to date – much more so than their teachers – and there is a vast amount of music teaching technology available that can be a powerful conduit to learning.įrom creative music theory lessons on YouTube to guided learning through educational apps, music technology is proven to be more engaging in the classroom. One of the most significant drawbacks of traditional music teaching methods is that they underutilize technology. In many cases, it’s up to music teachers to pave the way for a contemporary music education experience and replace traditional teaching strategies with innovative ones that focus on inclusion and engagement.īelow are four contemporary music teaching strategies you can employ to foster an engaged and inclusive classroom. We have a better understanding of the needs of the modern classroom, and there are more resources available than ever, but rigid school systems can be slow to embrace change. The landscape of music education has changed drastically over the past decade. USC Thornton alumnus Richard Perez rehearses with his students at Marco Foster Middle School in San Juan Capistrano.
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