Incorporating Other Subjects Into Your Music Program -- Heidelberg MusEd discussion

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Date Posted: 20:10:21 02/11/08 Mon
Author: Jenna B
Subject: Incorporating Other Subjects Into Your Music Program

So I have spent much time on thinking whether or not the other subjects such as English and History should be incorporated into our Music Programs. I think that this issue should be taken into high priority and should be truly considered. Even if it is just having students keep a journal with prompts that include these other subjects, I think that this would be beneficial.

What do you think?

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[> Re: Incorporating Other Subjects Into Your Music Program -- Nikki M., 15:01:16 02/14/08 Thu [1]

I definately think that it's very important to incorporate as much of the other subjects into the music program (aka "Crossing the Curricula"). Now, I don't think one should ever plan lessons AROUND other subjects, but instead point them out to students when they arise, and have them find correlations on their own. I think the journal idea is wonderful.
I don't feel so strongly about this for the sake of the value of the music education for the students, but for the safety of music education itself. In a time where music and arts programs are being attacked and eliminated, the music educator needs to be able to say "Look how much we've learned here that is NOT just music-oriented." Maybe the administration, school board, and/or community will will at least think again before cutting your program.

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[> [> Re: Incorporating Other Subjects Into Your Music Program -- Nikki M., 15:09:33 02/14/08 Thu [1]

Another thing I did not mention was an idea I learned at a session in Cincinnati. If you talk to the other teachers in your school and see what they are teaching, you could teach relative things in your music classes. For example, if your English teacher is teaching students about the poetry of Robert Frost, maybe you could have your choir sing a song with text by Frost. Or if in history the students are learning about the Civil War, you could find pieces written in that time frame for your band to play, and then talk to them about how the events in their history class influenced the music they're playing.
Then you and the other teachers could communicate and work together.
If you think about it, this may really help a lot of students who love music but don't do well in academic classes because they could connect the subjects together. Or in reverse, maybe students who don't excel in music will understand it better and have more appreciation toward the arts.

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[> Re: Incorporating Other Subjects Into Your Music Program -- Chris Beach, 14:00:13 02/17/08 Sun [1]

I think this is a very interesting idea... I believe that it is essential to have each subject correlate to the others. Often times, we are required to play or sing music from the past... We sing it because we have to. We are not told anything about the pieces. Usually pieces are written by feelings or something in the past that inspired them.

It is essential to know the history of something that way it is better prepared for a performance. You can put your whole heart and emotions into the piece that way.

I also agree with Nikki. No subject should be made a higher priority over the others. All are important; however, in today's society, people fail to realize that. They think that only the core subjects are important.

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[> Re: Incorporating Other Subjects Into Your Music Program -- John Weber, 16:22:46 04/06/08 Sun [1]

Both Nikki and Chris have excellent ideas, and ones that I think would work well-for only part of the band. As good of an idea as a Robert Frost choir piece may be, it is more than likely that only seniors, for example, would be studying Frost. The rest of the ensemble would be missing out on the experience.

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[> Re: Incorporating Other Subjects Into Your Music Program -- Nickie, 15:33:54 10/20/08 Mon [1]

I will tell you--it is absolutely necessary. Now that I'm a teacher, I can express to you firsthand how vitally important it is that we as music educators incorporate other subject areas everyday! All the teachers in my district are constantly being asked, "So what are YOU doing to help the kids pass their standardized tests?" ...Oh, NCLB...

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