"Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks
and invents." --Ludwig van BeethovenWe use music to create desired
moods-- to make us happy, to enjoy movement and dance, to energize,
to bring back powerful memories, to help us RELAX and FOCUS. Music
is a powerful tool for our personal expression within our daily
lives-- it helps "set the scene" for many important
experiences.
hree areas of teaching where integrating music can be highly
effective
How Music Connects to the Core Subject AreasResearch & Ideas
Used in the Music Classroom
Music and MathMusical notation-notes and rhythms-are sets of
graphs Students use addition and subtraction skills when working
with measures and beats: Creating and/or completing measures using
quarter, half, eighth notes and their respective number of
counts.
Music and ScienceInstruments and ScienceSize and Pitch:Large
instruments have low soundsSmall instruments have high soundsUsing
Boomwhackers (plastic tubes that are pitched to certain notes), you
can build a pyramid to visually show the students that to support
the pyramid, the large tube must be on the bottom (and it makes the
lowest sound). The smallest tube must be on the top of the pyramid
(it makes the highest sound)
Music and Science
Other interesting ideas:Glasses filled with different amounts of
water-have the students put them in order from the lowest to the
highest (the lowest will be the one with the least amount of water;
the highest will be the one with the most water-the instrument is
actually the air column created by the space not filled up with
water: smaller air space = more water = higher sound larger air
space = less water = lower soundThere are numerous songs and
movement activities that have a science focus to them.The
opportunities to connect music to science are ENDLESS!!!
Music and..
Music and Social StudiesHappens often when teaching/learning
songs about:CountriesContinentsStatesGame songs from other
culturesFolk dances from around the worldWhile learning these
songs, we also learn:GamesDancesInstruments-both American and
foreignRhythmsSongs in native languagesHistory of American music
and world music
Music and..
Music and ReadingBoth music and reading rely on the
discrimination of sounds from each otherWhen learning to read, we
learn how to relate letters to their spoken sounds
Endless Possibilities!!!Music is constantly connected to the
core subjects of education
By its nature, music education naturally addresses all subject
areas!
