General+Music

=__﻿ TEACHING GENERAL MUSIC IN SECONDARY SETTINGS__= ==

__A Brief History of Music Education in the United States__
Music education originated in the eighteenth century as singing school began forming throughout the newly-formed colonies. Traveling singing teachers would arrive in a town and organize a singing school where students would be taught the basics of singing, note-reading and a simple repertoire of sacred music. Lowell Mason organized the first public school music program in the 1830's; the concept quickly spread through the colonies and grew to include both vocal and instrumental music.

__Various Class Options in Secondary Music__
Teaching music in a secondary setting gives music teachers a more wide variety of courses which can be offered depending on their particular school standards, budget, etc. The following are some of the most popular:
 * Chorus[[image:band.jpg align="right"]]
 * Symphonic Band
 * Symphony Orchestra
 * Jazz Ensemble
 * Marching Band
 * Small Ensembles

The following are other class possibilities which are growing in popularity:
 * Keyboard Class
 * Guitar Class
 * Composition

__Lesson Planning and Goals__
When planning a curriculum for general music, a teacher should begin by clearly defining his/her philosophy for the program. The following questions were developed by Dr. Debra Hedden to assist teachers in verbalizing their philosophy.


 * What is your rationale for teaching general music? Why is it important to do so?
 * Why is it important for students to learn about music and attend music class?
 * What benefits does music learning have that are relegated only to music learning? What do students learn/achieve in music that they cannot gain in any other curricular area? Why is it important to learn for the sake of music?
 * What are the broad goals for your program and students?
 * *What are the more specific goals for your program and your students?

Once your philosophy of teaching is established, it is important to set goals for your general music program. To this end, the National Association for Music Education has developed a set of national standards for music education to assist teachers in developing well-rounded lesson plans. By incorporating two or three of these standards into each lesson plan, music teachers can be sure they are providing their students with a comprehensive music education.

__National Standards for Music Education__

1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments. 4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines. 5. Reading and notating music. 6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music. 7. Evaluating music and music performances. 8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts. 9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.

__Assignment__
Select one of the class options listed above and discuss how you would use two or three of the national standards in a lesson plan for that class. Post your answer under discussions.

References
 * Campbell, Patricia. //Musician and Teacher,// New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2008.
 * Crawford, Richrad. //An Introduction ot America's Music.// New York: W.W. Norton and Companny, 2001.
 * Hedden, Debra. "General Music Curriculum Framework Document," http://www.menc.org/ (accessed 3-19-2011).
 * MENC, "National Standards for Music Education," [] (accessed 3-18-2011).