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McBride
Philosophy Of Music Education
Music is a word that all human beings would recognize. It evokes
emotions that are inexplicable with words. Music allows all people to
experience something otherworldly. As music educators it is our job to
provide our students with the necessary tools to experience these
feelings. Emotional connectivity to students is crucial to this. Students
should teach you as much as you teach them. They should keep you
informed as to the changes in music and you should be sensitive to
their world and their interest. Also crucial to this process is
understanding how students learn, and understanding that all students
learn in different ways. Being that music is not the typical, core,
subject I believe different learning styles can be embraced and
incorporated into the classroom much easier.
Bennett Reimer is a renowned Music Education Philosopher
whose beliefs I connect with; and whose ideas changed the music
world. I believe that his philosophy can be interpreted in different ways
and can fit nicely in any music classroom. Reimer believes that music
Systematically develops a form of intelligence that affords
meaningful, cognitive experiences unavailable in any other way(Why
Music Matters, n.d). He is a firm believer that music offers something
students who learn differently form you. All different learning styles
can be honored in the classroom.
Bernice McCarthys research on learning styles offers teachers a
methodology for teaching students with different styles of learning.
McCarthys research centers around 4MAT which can be summed up by
saying The interplay between the feeling of experience and the
thinking of conceptualization is crucial to the learning process. It
connects the personal values and perceptions of students to those of
expert learners.(About Learning, n.d). There are four types of learning
in this system. Type one is Imaginative learners. These individuals
learn by making personal connections to the material, feeling and
interacting. They are also known as social learners. Type two learners
are Analytical learners. These individuals are very practical, they like to
learn from textbooks and do a lot of research. Type three learners are
common sense learners. These individuals like to learn by
experimenting, building, and tinkering. Finally Type four learners are
Dynamic learners. These individuals learn by doing and feeling. They
seek other options, and learn by trial and error. McCarthys research
also focuses somewhat on Left and Right Brain studies. She claims that
the left-brain is the more literal and analytical side while the right brain
is imaginative. This can connect to music in many ways. Students may
believe that because they are a certain type of learner or lean more
toward one side of their brain that they cannot be good musicians. This
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