j.H. Nketia, perhaps the foremost African musicologist once said, "A village that has no org... more j.H. Nketia, perhaps the foremost African musicologist once said, "A village that has no organized music or neglects singing and dancing is said to be dead" (Chernoff 1979 p.36). I believe what Nketia is referring to, in this quote, is the importance of music in building a sense of community and the people's relationship to the society they live in. Nketia's words are central to the focus of my talk today. Let's imagine for a minute that the village Nketia speaks of is a community of learners or a classroom of students. If the lack of music or singing and dancing defines a classroom of learners without life, I shudder to think how many classrooms would, in Nketia's description, be close to dying. Is this the case and what can be done to change the situation? To begin, I would like to encourage you, as musicians, as music educators, as teachers committed to providing quality music programs in schools, to open your minds to the possibility that everyone shoul...
In this reflection, Louise Pascale describes the evolution, development, and outcomes of the Afgh... more In this reflection, Louise Pascale describes the evolution, development, and outcomes of the Afghan Children's Songbook Project, which is reintroducing children's ethnic songs to the children of Afghanistan and Afghan expats as well as to American schoolchildren. Her reflection highlights the potential for music to unify and strengthen community, thus joining people together in a common experience. She explores the suppression and resurgence of musical culture in Afghanistan and the connection of this experience to music education in schools in the United States.
Teaching songs from a wide variety of cultures is commonplace in music classrooms around the Unit... more Teaching songs from a wide variety of cultures is commonplace in music classrooms around the United States. Students gain understanding of and insight into a wide range of cultures by singing their songs and listening to their music. The Afghan Children’s Songbook Project is a project focused on preserving and returning traditional songs, eradicated by the Taliban. This project opened
The Integrated Teaching through the Arts graduate degree program offered at Lesley University in ... more The Integrated Teaching through the Arts graduate degree program offered at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, offers professional development for teachers in grades K-12. The program design includes a cohort model in which teachers study arts integration during weekend classes for 22 months. Program courses include theory and practice of arts integrated activities with an emphasis on collaboration and
j.H. Nketia, perhaps the foremost African musicologist once said, "A village that has no org... more j.H. Nketia, perhaps the foremost African musicologist once said, "A village that has no organized music or neglects singing and dancing is said to be dead" (Chernoff 1979 p.36). I believe what Nketia is referring to, in this quote, is the importance of music in building a sense of community and the people's relationship to the society they live in. Nketia's words are central to the focus of my talk today. Let's imagine for a minute that the village Nketia speaks of is a community of learners or a classroom of students. If the lack of music or singing and dancing defines a classroom of learners without life, I shudder to think how many classrooms would, in Nketia's description, be close to dying. Is this the case and what can be done to change the situation? To begin, I would like to encourage you, as musicians, as music educators, as teachers committed to providing quality music programs in schools, to open your minds to the possibility that everyone shoul...
In this reflection, Louise Pascale describes the evolution, development, and outcomes of the Afgh... more In this reflection, Louise Pascale describes the evolution, development, and outcomes of the Afghan Children's Songbook Project, which is reintroducing children's ethnic songs to the children of Afghanistan and Afghan expats as well as to American schoolchildren. Her reflection highlights the potential for music to unify and strengthen community, thus joining people together in a common experience. She explores the suppression and resurgence of musical culture in Afghanistan and the connection of this experience to music education in schools in the United States.
Teaching songs from a wide variety of cultures is commonplace in music classrooms around the Unit... more Teaching songs from a wide variety of cultures is commonplace in music classrooms around the United States. Students gain understanding of and insight into a wide range of cultures by singing their songs and listening to their music. The Afghan Children’s Songbook Project is a project focused on preserving and returning traditional songs, eradicated by the Taliban. This project opened
The Integrated Teaching through the Arts graduate degree program offered at Lesley University in ... more The Integrated Teaching through the Arts graduate degree program offered at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, offers professional development for teachers in grades K-12. The program design includes a cohort model in which teachers study arts integration during weekend classes for 22 months. Program courses include theory and practice of arts integrated activities with an emphasis on collaboration and
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