Assignment #1-8 questions

I know quite a bit about music.  I grew up being involved in musical activities such as dance and piano lessons and I continued musical activities by playing the clarinet, participating in musicals, and participating in choir.  I know how to keep a beat, read time signatures, and understand different musical concepts.  I took the Topics in Music class and learned so much more about music. I would like to learn some more songs that I could use immediately when I become a teacher. Also, I  would like to learn more about how I, as a teacher, could help students learn about and really appreciate music! 

Music and the Creative Processes: 8 questions

Music IN Education....Things to Think About

1. How do you use music in YOUR life?

-I use music all the time! It is a great way for me to express myself! I listen to music in the car while driving.  When I am stressed, I listen to music to help me relax.  I also like to be goofy and make up random lyrics to different songs.  Music is a great way for me to just get my mind off of other things.  It also helps me to hum while doing different tasks.

 

2. What musical activities and interests did you have as a child?

-I danced for 8 years starting when I was four years old.  I also played the piano for six years.  I love music so I continued participating in musical activities such as band, play productions, and high school choir. 

3. Have you observed children at musical play?

-I babysit a little boy who has a speech pathologist visit him and work with him and I was able to watch the speech pathologist use different songs such as "Wheels On The Bus" to help the little boy with his language abilities.  I also observed a preschool class and enjoyed listening to all the songs used to learn the months, days of the week, etc... and also to help them with transitions and to just have fun.

 

4. Are there some musical skills you are able to teach to children more easily than others?

-What the notes are and how to read music would be pretty easy.  I also think it would be easy to help them learn time signatures.  Teaching students different genres and what time periods they were developed would be harder.  I think it will be difficult to teach students musical elements and have every student learn to appreciate music.

5. What do you think that all children should be able to do, musically, as a result of a MUSICAL

education?
-I think children should be able to know some music basics: different notes, beats, how one can emphasize notes, and just simple concepts.  I hope that after children have a musical education, they are able to create catchy tunes to help them if they struggle with a concept.

6. Have you ever observed a teacher integrating music into the classroom? Cite examples.

-As I stated earlier, I observed a preschool class and I was able to see a lot of music integrated into the classroom.  Songs are a great way to teach children new things and children also have so much fun singing new songs and ones that they have known for a while.  Songs are great for students, especially students in the lower grades who are just discovering routines.  Also, when I was in fifth grade, we sang songs about the 50 states and their capitals to help us learn.

7. How do you think music can be integrated into the elementary classroom?

-Music can be integrated into pretty much every subject in the elementary classroom.  Some of the most common songs to help younger students learn are the ABCs and days of the weeks songs.  Maybe math is hard for some students, but a teacher can find a way to create a catchy musical tune that will help those students that may be struggling.  This can help them enjoy learning new things.  You can use calm music while students are studying which I think helps people get focused.  Or music can be used just to take a break from work and get up and move around and have fun.

8. How do you think music can be used as an interdisciplinary tool in the elementary classroom?
-Music about math facts is a great interdisciplinary tool in the elementary classroom.  In Social Studies a teacher could incorporate different songs from different countries to help students learn.  As a science teacher, one could sing songs to help students learn about the planets.  Music can be integrated into every subject to enhance student learning.