The UMass Lowell String Project is one of the best music education programs in the local area, so if you have a child who loves music, you should check it out! Read on for some FAQ’s that will help you learn more about this wonderful initiative. What is String Project? The String Project mainly teaches students how to play string instruments, but they learn so much more along the way. Students discover how music can…
In this series of music education posts, I would like to introduce you to the most popular methods for teaching music. In my last post of the series, I will talk about Feierabend. 1. Creator John Martin Feierabend (born November 29, 1952) is an American music education researcher, pedagogue and author. He is currently the Director of Music Education for the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford. Feierabend actually created two music…
In this series of music education posts, I would like to introduce you to the most popular methods for teaching music. Today I will talk about the Suzuki method. 1. Creator Dr. Shinichi Suzuki (1898-1998) was an accomplished Japanese violinist and educator. During his lifetime, he played for the Imperial Court of Japan was president of the Teikoku Music School. He developed his method by observing that children are able to learn their mother tongue…
I sang with the Treble Chorus of New England (TCNE) for 6 years, and it was easily one of the best musical experiences of my life. You will not find a kinder, friendlier, or more welcoming group of children and young adults than I found when I joined the chorus. In my time at TCNE, not only did I vastly improve my musicianship, singing, and language skills, but I also grew socially surrounded by a…
In this series of music education posts, I would like to introduce you to the most popular methods for teaching music. Next up: the Orff method! 1. Creator Carl Orff (1895-1982) was a German composer, conductor, and educator who is perhaps best known for his famous oratorio, “Carmina Burana.” He composed this piece while serving as music director of the school he co-founded in Munich. He came up with his ideas based on his belief…
In recent years, subjects like math and science have been pushed as being most important in school and society. This trend is increasingly reflected in the decisions of college students choosing their majors, but also in the decision making process of elementary and middle school students. More than 80% of US school districts have seen their funding slashed since 2008, and fine arts disciplines such as music, art, and foreign language are almost always the first…
In this series of music education posts, I would like to introduce you to the most popular methods for teaching music. Today I will talk about the Dalcroze method, also known as eurythmics. 1. Creator Emile Jaques-Dalcroze (1865-1950) was a Swiss composer, music educator, and music theorist. He spent some time as a professor of harmony at the Geneva Conservatory in Switzerland, and it was here that he started developing his method of teaching. He…
In this series of music education posts, I would like to introduce you to the most popular methods for teaching music. First up: the Kodaly method! 1. Creator Zoltan Kodaly (1882-1967) was a Hungarian composer, author, educator, and expert on the folk songs of his culture. This method is an approach to music education based on his philosophies. Although this method wasn’t exactly invented by Kodaly, it was developed by his colleagues and students in the…
Studies show that music is essential to children’s education, but did you know that there are many different music education methods? Here is an overview of the most common methods used in the US and how they work. KODALY Those who follow the Kodaly Method start music education as early as possible, as they believe it is most effective when students are young. They also believe that everyone is capable of musical literacy. The focus is on…
Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down to speak with a local elementary school teacher. Read this interview with a teacher to explore her thoughts on education, culture, music, and how they work together to make what is, in her opinion, the best job in the world. Please introduce yourself to the readers. My name is Rita McLaughlin and I am an elementary school music and choral teacher. I teach at the Murkland…
