December 2009 Blog Posts (4)

Bridging the cultural gap: music appreciation in urban schools

INTRODUCTION

While on my very first teaching assignment in an inner-city middle school, I encountered a quote in the training manual that always stuck with me. It read, “If students cannot learn from the way we teach, then we must teach the way they learn.” That sentiment couldn’t be more applicable to any educational setting, than it is to inner-city music education. In this age of hip-hop and R&B, inner-city music educators can face a difficulty. How are those students who have… Continue

Added by Steve Burks on December 17, 2009 at 4:05pm — 5 Comments

Developing vocal groups' harmonic skill

INTRODUCTION

A foundational principle of music is relativity. Therefore, when it comes to amateur choirs and groups who learn harmony, there are two things that are crucial to singers' individual and collective success. (1) Singers have to get used to hearing parts that are different from their own, without being "pulled away." (2) During musical rests – especially long ones – singers must develop the ability to remember the sound of the previous note(s) they… Continue

Added by Steve Burks on December 17, 2009 at 3:00pm — 4 Comments

The Hardest Questions aren't on the Test - Lessons from an Innovative Urban School by Linda Nathan

THE HARDEST QUESTIONS AREN’T ON THE TEST

Lessons from an Innovative Urban School

by Linda F. Nathan

A dynamic high school principal on schools that matter, teachers who inspire, and students who achieve

The Boston Arts Academy comprises an ethnically and

socioeconomically… Continue

Added by Chris Brown on December 8, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments