Introduction to Music
Source: www.nde.state.ne.us
Topic: Musical Notation
Sort Desciption: Introduction to Music. The study of music in our nation’s schools has a long and .... musical notation. Sample Activities:. Provide opportunities that allow ...
Content Inside: Introduction to Music The study of music in our nation’s schools has a long and proud tradition dating back to the inclusion of music in the curriculum of the Boston Public Schools in 1838. Today, virtually every school in the United States includes at least some music instruction in its curriculum. Why has music been included in the curriculum? Perhaps it is because society recognizes that an education in music has provided and will continue to provide the individual with powerful tools for living in a changing world. Foremost among these powerful tools are: (1) an outlet for creativity and self-expression; (2) a catalyst for the learning process itself; and (3) a unique perspective for knowing about the world and understanding one’s self. First, music provides an outlet for creativity and for self-expression. Musical performance, composition and improvisation can enable individuals to express their noblest thoughts and feelings. The process of making and creating music engages the imagination. It allows individuals to assert their uniqueness. These outlets are particularly important in today’s technology-oriented society. In music, as in life, there are often no clear or “right” answers to questions that are nonetheless worth asking; e.g., can this musical phrase be made more expressive by making it louder or softer? In a world inundated with “factual” information, an education in music gives students an opportunity to explore subjectivity as a viable way of responding to their world. Not only does the study of music provide an outlet for creativity and self- expression, it can serve as a catalyst for the learning process itself. When students are engaged in the skills-based discipline of making music, they must encounter their strengths and weaknesses in a very authentic way that differs greatly from the abstract learning, which occurs in other disciplines of the curriculum. Success in the development of musical skills and literacy ...
