This online publication was designed explicitly for YOU, the preservice elementary teacher who wishes to use music as a tool for creative teaching and learning in the elementary classroom.
There are three primary interrelated goals for this text. Our first goal is to familiarize you with the fundamentals of music with the intent of exploring various ways that music can be used as an effective teaching tool for a variety of content areas and classroom management in the elementary classroom. The second goal is to provide experiences for you to reflect and create instructional lessons that intentionally integrate music that could be used in YOUR elementary classroom one day. The third goal is to encourage you to participate in music making activities so that you gain the confidence and experience using music as a tool for teaching and learning. Your experience making music will provide invaluable personal insight, confidence, and creativity that will enhance your own teaching and ensure effective and age appropriate use of music as a tool for teaching and learning in the elementary classroom.
Each chapter covers specific content relevant to the use of music as a tool for teaching in the elementary classroom and discusses the age appropriate grade ranges for various musical activities so that you are able to integrate developmentally appropriate music in your own classroom. Chapter One reviews HOW? WHAT? And WHY? this course and text is essential to preservice education and your career as an elementary teacher. Chapter Two through Chapter Five each explore the fundamentals of music. Chapter Two explores rhythm and the various components of this important fundamental of music. You will be introduced to very basic rhythmic notation that will help provide you with the background necessary to connect rhythm with the daily linguistic and movement activities that students participate in in the elementary classroom. Chapter Three analyzes melody which includes singing and songs. Basic melodic notation is introduced with the intention of providing you with the skills to make informed age-appropriate song selections for teaching and learning in the elementary classroom. Chapter Four surveys the expressive qualities of music including tone color, dynamics, and texture and briefly touches on the science of sound and families of instruments. Chapter five discusses form in music as a way to encourage critical listening. Chapter Six describes the connection between literacy and music. Chapter Seven examines musical movement and play as a vital component of learning in the elementary classroom. Chapter Eight reflects on creative music integration. Chapter Nine reveals music’s unique ability to cross cultural and ethnic boundaries to explore cultural diversity and touches on traditional African music as well as Native American music. Chapter Ten considers our role as advocates for the Arts, especially music.
Dr. Nicola F. Mason is Professor of Music Education and Chair of the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Educational Leadership at Eastern Kentucky University. Dr. Mason was born and raised in South Africa where she taught K-12 music and band. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from Stellenbosch University, Master of Music from Morehead State University, and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky. Dr. Mason is an Orff Certified teacher, past president of the Kentucky Orff-Schulwerk Association, and past-editorial board member of The Orff Echo. Her scholarly works can be found in various publications and she regularly presents at local, national, and international conferences. But Dr. Mason is first and foremost a musician and performs regularly on tuba and double bass.
Chapter 1: Music as a Teaching Tool in the Elementary Classroom
Chapter 2: Rhythm
Chapter 3: Melody and Songs
Chapter 4: Expression—Tone Color, Dynamics, and Texture
Chapter 5: Form
Chapter 6: Music and Stories
Chapter 7: Musical Movement and Playing Games
Chapter 8: Creative Music Integration
Chapter 9: Cultural Diversity and Music
Chapter 10: Advocating for Music Education