Teaching Music: Reflection

Dear Kelda,

As we are thinking about teaching music this week, I wondered about composing and teaching composition as a generalist teacher. The thought was irksome to me as I had never really been exposed to composition in music, and our lessons this week show that it can be as simple as Jeanneret and Swainston (2012) indicate, as allowing children to experiment with sound. Although given my own family attempt at creating a soundscape are not too promising.

You can listen to it by clicking here: 

I attended a music teaching conference this year with Australian Society for Music Education run by TASME who include and represent many differing types of music education stakeholders (Baker, B, 2015), and found it very interesting that those who were in attendance were all specialist teachers. I definitely felt a little intimidated given the participation involved and have no doubts about the comment Jeanneret and Swainston make that 'Lack of confidence to teach music is a common problem for the generalist' (2012, p. 93) and is definitely one that I felt. In saying this I know that it is not too difficult to bring music, song and dance into younger classrooms, though as a generalist I wonder how I would endeavor to do this with upper primary students.

I was very impressed with the learning I received from music teaching specialist Susie (pictured left) and I really recommend her and her husbands website as a fantastic resource for teaching music even for generalists. She uses the Orff Schulwerk method, and while I was only briefly introduced to its existence andpracticed using it. Doing this gave me courage and interested me in gaining knowledge and understanding of the Orff method.

Yours faithfully,


Tracey

References:

Baker, B. (2015). ASME Tasmania. Australian Society for Muisc Education (Tasmanian Chapter). retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/asmetasmaniaaustralia/home 

Davis-Splitter, S. & Splitter, P. (2015). Welcome to music. Retrieved from https://www.welcometomusic.net/ 

Jeanneret, N. & Swainston, A. (2012). Making musical and cultural connections. in Sinclair, C., Jeanneret, N & O'Tool, J. Education in the arts. Oxford University Press. South Melbourne.