Alternative Approaches in Music Education: Case Studies from the Field

by Ann C. Clements (Editor), Frank Abrahams (Contribution by), Joseph Abramo (Contribution by), Carlos Abril (Contribution by), Sarah Bartolome (Contribution by)

Overview

Explore the creative ways music educators across the country are approaching emerging practices in music teaching and learning. Outlined in twenty-five unique case studies, each program offers a new perspective on music teaching and learning, often falling outside the standard music education curriculum. Find innovative ideas and models of successful practice to incorporate into your teaching, whether in school, university, or community settings. Close the gap between music inside and outside the music classroom and spark student interest. The diversity of these real-world case studies will inspire questioning and curiosity, stimulate lively discussion and innovation, and provide much food for thought.
Designed for music teachers, preservice music education students, and music education faculty, this project was supported by Society for Music Teacher Education's (SMTE) Areas of Strategic Planning and Action on Critical Examination of the Curriculum, which will receive a portion of the proceeds.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781607098553
Publisher:	R&L Education
Publication date:	10/16/2010
Pages:	330
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Ann C. Clements is associate professor of music education at the Pennsylvania State University where she teaches undergraduate courses in secondary general music methods, world and popular musics, materials and repertoire, and guitar techniques and graduate level courses in philosophy and sociology of music education. She also serves as the upper school general music teacher at the State College Friends School in State College, Pennsylvania, director of their children's Peace Choir, and director of the Foxdale Village Retirement Community Chorus.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Preface Part 2 Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade Case Studies Chapter 3 Opening Spaces in the Instrumental Music Classroom Chapter 4 Guitar Class and the Popular Music Ensemble Chapter 5 Toward a New Conception of World Music Education: The Virtual Field Experience Chapter 6 Discovering World Music and Children's Worlds - Pedagogy Responding to Children's Learning Needs Chapter 7 The Lakewood Project: Rockin' Out with Informal Learning Chapter 8 Music Tech, Adaptive Music, and Rock Band 101: Engaging Middle School-Age Students in General Music Class Chapter 9 Rock 'n' Roll High School: A Genre Comes of Age in the Curriculum Chapter 10 Lead Lines, Licks and Everything In-between: Popular Music in a Preschool Music Classroom Chapter 11 Starting Young: Developing a Successful Instrumental Music Program in Kindergarten Chapter 12 Music in Cyberspace: Exploring New Models in Education Chapter 13 Exploring the Creation of Music through Film Scoring Chapter 14 Alternatives to Music Education: East Meets West in Music Education Chapter 15 Steel Drums in a Middle School Setting Chapter 16 Talkin' Turkey: Incorporating Music from Turkey in the Elementary General Music Class Chapter 17 Enhancing the Instrumental Music Program with Creativity Part 18 School to Community and Higher Education Case Studies Chapter 19 O Passo (The Step): A Critical Pedagogy for Music Education from Brazil Chapter 20 Cultural Bearers in the Children's Choral Ensemble Chapter 21 A Unique Collaboration: The Fairview Elementary School String Project Chapter 22 New Wine in Old Skins: Making Music with Older Adults Chapter 23 Compose Yourself: Older People and Garage Band Chapter 24 Democratic Jazz: Two Perspectives on a Collaborative Improvisation Jazz Workshop Chapter 25 If the Shoe Fits. .. Tapping into the Potential of an Undergraduate Peer Teaching Experience to Promote Music-Teacher and Music-Teacher-Educator Socialization and Identity Chapter 26 Crossing Borders: Building Bridges for an International Exchange in Music Teacher Education Chapter 27 The Rock Project: Informal Learning in Secondary General Methods Chapter 28 Rekindling the Playful Spirit: Learning to Teach through Play

Editorial Reviews

Many music programs in schools focus almost exclusively on performance, whether this manifests itself through choirs, orchestras, bands, or other ensembles. Traditionally, these groups practice in ordinary classrooms and other performance space, and perform in an auditorium, concert hall, or gymnasium. Clements (Pennsylvania State Univ.) has assembled a collection of essays that explore a variety of innovative, exciting, and unusual ways to work with children in the music classroom. The 25 case studies presented explore a variety of topics, including world music, rock 'n' roll, film scoring, music technology, and composition. Examples demonstrate effective approaches with a variety of age groups, from preschool children to retirees….all are easy to read and follow, and contain a wealth of information gleaned by the contributors. The information regarding how to get a course proposal accepted, classroom strategies, curricular influences, and funding sources is especially useful. An excellent complement for Lucy Green's Music, Informal Learning, and the School: A New Classroom Pedagogy (CH, Oct'09, 47-0996) or Estelle Jorgenson's Transforming Music Education (CH, Jul'03, 40-6313). Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduate, graduate, and research collections.

Choice Reviews

The lived experiences evident in the cases presented in Alternative Approaches in Music Education provide an extensive, significant basis for rich discussions in music teacher education. The reader will be challenged to think broadly about the meaning and purpose of music education, and ways to reach students beyond the traditional music curriculum. The editor and authors are to be commended for their work in compiling these depictions that remind us again of the importance of music for all.

Linda Thompson

Many music programs in schools focus almost exclusively on performance, whether this manifests itself through choirs, orchestras, bands, or other ensembles. Traditionally, these groups practice in ordinary classrooms and other performance space, and perform in an auditorium, concert hall, or gymnasium. Clements (Pennsylvania State Univ.) has assembled a collection of essays that explore a variety of innovative, exciting, and unusual ways to work with children in the music classroom. The 25 case studies presented explore a variety of topics, including world music, rock 'n' roll, film scoring, music technology, and composition. Examples demonstrate effective approaches with a variety of age groups, from preschool children to retirees….all are easy to read and follow, and contain a wealth of information gleaned by the contributors. The information regarding how to get a course proposal accepted, classroom strategies, curricular influences, and funding sources is especially useful. An excellent complement for Lucy Green's Music, Informal Learning, and the School: A New Classroom Pedagogy (CH, Oct'09, 47-0996) or Estelle Jorgenson's Transforming Music Education (CH, Jul'03, 40-6313). Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduate, graduate, and research collections.

Choice

Music education is a dynamic field, responsive to the needs of students, teachers, schools, and society. The case studies of curricular innovation in this collection provide tangible evidence of this growth. The authors give us new models and paths to analyze, consider, and adapt as we seek to open up more musical opportunities for more students to engage in the satisfactions and challenges of musical engagement. Congratulations to the authors, editor, and contributors to the Critical Examination of the Curriculum group of the Society for Music Teacher Education.

Janet R. Barrett

Many music programs in schools focus almost exclusively on performance, whether this manifests itself through choirs, orchestras, bands, or other ensembles. Traditionally, these groups practice in ordinary classrooms and other performance space, and perform in an auditorium, concert hall, or gymnasium. Clements (Pennsylvania State Univ.) has assembled a collection of essays that explore a variety of innovative, exciting, and unusual ways to work with children in the music classroom. The 25 case studies presented explore a variety of topics, including world music, rock 'n' roll, film scoring, music technology, and composition. Examples demonstrate effective approaches with a variety of age groups, from preschool children to retirees….all are easy to read and follow, and contain a wealth of information gleaned by the contributors. The information regarding how to get a course proposal accepted, classroom strategies, curricular influences, and funding sources is especially useful. An excellent complement for Lucy Green's Music, Informal Learning, and the School: A New Classroom Pedagogy (CH, Oct'09, 47-0996) or Estelle Jorgenson's Transforming Music Education (CH, Jul'03, 40-6313). Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduate, graduate, and research collections.

CHOICE

Many music programs in schools focus almost exclusively on performance, whether this manifests itself through choirs, orchestras, bands, or other ensembles. Traditionally, these groups practice in ordinary classrooms and other performance space, and perform in an auditorium, concert hall, or gymnasium. Clements (Pennsylvania State Univ.) has assembled a collection of essays that explore a variety of innovative, exciting, and unusual ways to work with children in the music classroom. The 25 case studies presented explore a variety of topics, including world music, rock 'n' roll, film scoring, music technology, and composition. Examples demonstrate effective approaches with a variety of age groups, from preschool children to retirees….all are easy to read and follow, and contain a wealth of information gleaned by the contributors. The information regarding how to get a course proposal accepted, classroom strategies, curricular influences, and funding sources is especially useful. An excellent complement for Lucy Green's Music, Informal Learning, and the School: A New Classroom Pedagogy (CH, Oct'09, 47-0996) or Estelle Jorgenson's Transforming Music Education (CH, Jul'03, 40-6313). Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduate, graduate, and research collections.

Choice Reviews - July 2011

Alternative Approaches in Music Education explores some of the creative ways music educators across the United States are approaching emerging practices in music teaching and learning...The topics vary from pop music to multicultural music, and from music technology to film scoring. Many differing ideas are presented in real-world case studies....The book would be most useful to music educators who are looking for new options or methods of teaching music to students, or to college professors interested in showing future music educators that music education is not limited to band, chorus, orchestra, and general music.

Music Educators Journal