ERIC Number: EJ960773
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Aug
Pages: 4
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1069-7446
EISSN: N/A
Can "Glee" Make a Splash in Music Class?
Olson, Cathy Applefeld
Teaching Music, v19 n1 p32-34, 36 Aug 2011
At the end of "Glee's" most recent season finale, Will Schuester--show choir director, student role model, and all-around good guy despite an impending midlife crisis--abandons his long-time Broadway dream so he can continue to foster a love of music among his adoring students. In the real world, of course, real music teachers are continually doing their best to foster a love of music among their real students. And one of the major factors with which they're contending along the way is the influence of "Glee" itself. Like most phenomena, the hit Fox TV drama series is neither all good nor all bad. It has drawn a landslide of media attention and assorted studies, not to mention throngs of vocal supporters and detractors who speak up in a gamut of forums, including those on the MENC website. Supporters maintain that "Glee" has given choral groups a new level of cool. They also claim that the show has elevated choir group numbers, expanded choral repertoire, and indirectly aided the fight against cuts to school arts programs. Those who are less enamored say that "Glee" sets unrealistic expectations for music students, provides an inaccurate barometer for teachers, is too heavy on drama and too light on musical substance. But love it or hate it, many teachers have noted an uptick in participation in existing school choral programs since the show--inspired in part by creator Ryan Murphy's own choir experiences growing up in Indiana--debuted in 2009.
Descriptors: Music Education, Role Models, Music, Singing, Student Role, Music Teachers, Television, Cultural Influences, Program Budgeting, Expectation, Programming (Broadcast), Musicians, Music Activities, Retrenchment, Drama, Mass Media Effects, Student Participation
MENC: The National Association for Music Education. 1806 Robert Fulton Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Tel: 800-336-3768; Tel: 703-860-4000; Web site: http://www.menc.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A