MusEd 351
Elementary General Music Methods

Focuses on philosophy, approaches/methods, and materials needed to teach a general music course in elementary school settings. Emphasizes teaching skill development, musical development of children, performance-based assessment, technology, classroom management, continued portfolio development, and field experiences.

Reading Tasks:

  1. Reading Task 1
    Which theories can help to guide the design of a child-centered curriculum? How might such a curriculum manifest itself in the behaviors of teachers and children?

  2. Reading Task 2
    How does the achievement of music literacy contribute to the comprehensiveness of children’s musical sensitivity and understanding?

  3. Reading Task 3
    Trace the development of children’s voices from early childhood through the intermediate grades, with special attention to changes in range and quality.

  4. Reading Task 4
    Discuss the musical and social outcomes of including movement in a music lesson for children.
    How are eurhythmics and creative movement related? How are they different?

  5. Reading Task 5
    What is the difference between active perceptive listening and passive functional listening? What are three techniques to enhance active listening?
    How might a teacher respond to older elementary children’s requests to bring pop music recordings to music class?

  6. Reading Task 6
    What is the difference between composing and improvising? What is the difference between convergent and divergent thinking?
    How is the type of thinking developed during creative activities different from the type of thinking in most of the rest of schooling?

  7. Reading Task 7
    What is a curriculum, and why is it important to have one?
    What considerations are important when establishing a curriculum? What factors might influence its successful implementation?
    What are the benefits of using the National Standards as a basic for your curriculum, and what might be the limitations?

Resource Review Project

Exceptionalities Handout with Commentary

Journal Article Review

Observation Task 1 (March 17, 2006) and 2 (April 7, 2006)

Teachings:

  1. Individual Rhythm Lesson (February 1, 2006) - Plan / Reflection

  2. Group Listening Lesson (March 22, 2006) - Plan / Video / Reflection

  3. School Lesson 1 (March 24, 2006) - Plan / Video / Reflection

  4. School Lesson 2 (April 21, 2006) - Plan / Video / Reflection

Professional Development Log

[Note: The videos on this page are large (between 49 and 60 MB), will take a while to download, and require Windows Media Player. Click here to download Windows Media Player.]

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