Music Please

Even though music is typically taught my specialists in primary schools, I think it’s important to incorporate music into the everyday experiences of children. “A multiple literacies approach to curriculum entails acknowledgment of all of society’s major forms of discourse, including music. The development of children’s ‘musical literacy’, their competence to participate, should therefore be of prime importance to educators.” (Barrett, 2003, pg.79)

In a class that follows an emergent curriculum, students are given opportunities to explore in open ended creative activities. I think it's important that a classroom provide the chance for children to experiment with music making during play based learning. Consideration should therefore be given to providing appropriate materials and resources to facilitate these discoveries.

I also think it’s important to careful consider musical selections to be introduced in the class. “The experience of listening to the music of others is important for the young child for a range of reasons. Simple immersion in music is crucial in introducing children to the diversity of music and the possibilities it offers them for personal expression and communication. Listening experiences provide children with models of musical thought and engagement that they can draw on in their own music-making, and form the basis for the development of a repertoire of musical possibilities. “ (Barrett, 2003, pg 81)

Teachers put a lot of thought into the storybooks they read to their class but my experience is that very little effort is put into exposing students to music. Many early education classrooms have a limited collection of music that was commercially made for children which do not represent the diverse genres or range of cultural and historical contexts.

A couple of music selections that I think would enhance an early education classroom include:

• Yertle the Turtle by the Red Hot Chili Peppers - this funky interpretation of the Dr. Seus classic shows how stories can be told in different mediums so it promotes multiliteracies.

• Afro Blue by Mongo Santamaria - In addition to showing a different genre and cultural perspective it’s a great demonstration of the musical elements of timbre and rhythm.

• The Planets, Gustav Holst - This would be great to go long with a unit on space or the solar system. Students can consider the different musical elements used to represent each planet.

A great example of how transformative music can be in a school is the PS22 Choir, a school choir from a public school in New York (Staten Island). Their interpretations of contemporary music are truly moving and inspirational.

For a little bit of fun, check out PS22 singing Black Sabbath and this example of a school choir in India singing Metallica!