Music and children just naturally go together. Those who love music and children with equal passion will want to bring children in touch with all the excitement the world of music offers. The elementary classroom is the perfect place to begin! The Musical Classroom, ninth edition, was created to share backgrounds on teaching music in the elementary grades and models for engaging children actively, enthusiastically, and joyfully in musical experiences. While this textbook is designed primarily for those preparing to teach—elementary education majors and music education majors—it also serves as a resource for in-service teachers and in home schooling. With the musical materials in this text, the resources and links on the companion website, and a personal desire to help children experience all that music can offer, elementary school teachers can make their classrooms Musical Classrooms.
What's in The Musical Classroom?
- 43 Model Experiences for Teaching Music (organized by Grades K-1, Grades 2–3, and Grades 4–5) are sequentially organized, standards based, and presented in a step-by-step format. Each model focuses on a single music concept and provides for assessing student learning through stated objectives, standards, and indicators for success. Recordings of the 54 musical selections for the 43 model experiences are accessed through the companion website. Learning may be adapted and expanded by using the "Adapt" (ways to reach all learners) and "Extend" (connecting to other subjects in the curriculum) sections that follow each model. Background information on teaching music in the elementary classroom is presented through a series of seven chapters beginning with an introduction to "Music in the Elementary School," followed by a description of the elements of music and the music-making experiences that are the basis for the model experiences. A chapter on "Music of the World" introduces the many genres and styles of music and identifies their importance in the curriculum. The various curricular approaches for teaching music are described: Orff and Kodály, Dalcroze Eurhythmics, Music Learning Theory, Comprehensive Musicianship, and the Eclectic approach. The "Curricular Developments and Integration" chapter presents information on music technology, integrating music with other subjects, reaching all learners through music, and the prekindergarten child and music. Section I concludes with an introduction to "Planning and Assessing Music Learning."
- A collection of 130 songs from a variety of cultures and styles for use in the model experiences and instrumental study is included in Section III.
- The Appendices include:
- Reference Material for Music Fundamentals
- An Introduction to the Autoharp®/Chromaharp®, QChord®, Soprano Recorder, and Guitar
- A Collection of Chants, Proverbs, and Poems
- Resources for Teachers highlighting internet resources for constructing lesson plans and locating music of various cultures and genres; software for music fundamentals study; references for curricular approaches; and lists of music suppliers and support organizations
- Resources for Children featuring books about music, storybooks about songs, music software, and interactive websites for children
- Glossary of important terms used throughout the text
- Indexes of the music titles and subjects
What's New in the Ninth Edition?
- The 2014 National Core Music Standards
- Description, content, and format of the standards introduced in Chapter 1
- Artistic processes of creating, performing, and responding put into action in Chapter 3
- Specific grade level performance standards illustrated in all model experiences in Section II
- Multiple curricular connections to other subjects
- Curricular theme, integrative area, or holiday identified for most of the 130 songs in Section III
- Additional curricular connections made in the 43 model experiences in Section II
- Brand-new Monthly Planners highlight important cultural celebrations, holidays, and special occasions related to music in The Musical Classroom
- Expanded soprano recorder instruction unit (Appendix B)
- 20 notated songs in sequence (complete with recorder diagrams/fingering charts)
- List of 15 additional songs to perform in Section III
- Addition of the QChord® with Autoharp®/Chromaharp® instruction unit (Appendix B)
- Introduction of the Qchord®, a digital song card guitar, and its many options for accompanying classroom singing along with the Autoharp®/Chromaharp®
- List of 45 songs (in Section III) to accompany with the three instruments
- Updated and expanded prekindergarten section (Chapter 6)
- Latest research on the importance of early music learning
- Integration of the PreK 2014 National Core Music Standards
- Introduction to the music education approaches in the Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia early childhood educational settings
- A significant infusion of technology throughout the text
- Complete update of technical devices and options in Chapter 6
- References and projects for college students using YouTube, visiting interactive websites, and exploring music software added to chapters in Section I
- Projects for elementary students updated in model experiences (Section II)
- Internet resources for constructing lesson plans, locating music of other cultures and genres, etc., featured in Appendix D
- Six new notated mallet-instrument ensemble accompaniments added to appropriate model experiences and songs
- Newly created companion website with numerous resources for both students and instructors
- Web resources for college students:
- Access to all recorded music (54 audio files) included in the model experiences with streamed audio and links to tracks found on Spotify and iTunes. Students can choose which service they prefer
- A supplementary notated song collection numbering 20
- Guidelines and form for evaluating music software programs, forms for self-evaluation and peer evaluation of model experience presentations
- Tuning directions and strumming patterns for the guitar
- Autoharp®/Chromaharp® strumming patterns and special effects accompaniments
- Information on the adult voice
- Specifics for the 13 disability categories in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and suggestions for engaging children with special needs in music
- Classified lists of songs and listening selections in the text by curricular area (e.g., language arts, social studies)
- Student interactive quizzes for self-drill
- Web resources for instructors:
- Suggestions for using The Musical Classroom in the college classroom
- An instructional keyboard unit for college classes with piano labs
- A compilation of songs to use for instrumental study organized by recorder, Auto-harp®/Chromaharp®/QChord®, piano/keyboard, guitar, and mallet instruments
- Supplementary student projects and assignments
- Chapter Quizzes