ERIC Number: EJ923539
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 5
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-1253
EISSN: N/A
Can Music in Schools Live up to Its Promise?
Whyte, Ingrid; Mould, Norman
Education Canada, v51 n2 Spr 2011
Music helps to bring out the best in young people. It nourishes self-esteem and keeps them engaged. The starting point for any good school program is the teacher, whether that program teaches English, math, science, history, arts--or music. So why is it that, at the elementary level, we have so many generalist classroom teachers--with no background in music or music education--attempting to deliver the music curriculum? We know that active music making has the strongest impact on kids, but in a survey by the Coalition for Music Education, listening ranked highest on the list of music activities in schools. Could this be a symptom of the lack of knowledgeable music specialists in the classroom, who find it easier to put a CD into a player than to teach the rudiments of music theory or strike up a chorus or a band? Strengthening music programs may require resources, but more fundamentally, it requires a will and a belief that music can change young lives. (Contains 8 endnotes.)
Descriptors: Music Education, Music Activities, Music Theory, Educational Needs, Change Strategies, Educational Strategies, Classroom Techniques, Educational Practices, Class Activities, Foreign Countries, Teacher Effectiveness, Educational Principles, Educational Philosophy
Canadian Education Association. 119 Spadina Avenue Suite 705, Toronto, ON M5V 1P9, Canada. Tel: 416-591-6300; Fax: 416-591-5345; e-mail: publications@cea-ace-ca; Web site: http://www.cea-ace.ca/education-canada
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A