Claire Draginis

Elementary Music Methods for Non-Music Majors

3/14/16

Video Questions

Artistic Expression: Music, Art, and Poetry

How is exploration built into each lesson?
Students follow a set of guidelines but have opportunities to expand
and incorporate their own ideas. They were able to choose the topic
foe their Haiku poem, adapt the art techniques to their own desires,
and try out different instruments. Ms. Hwang encourages us to let our
students create on their own, and not to be overwhelmed by trying to
do everything right because the students may have an even better
idea to use than your original idea.
Notice the structure used by Ms. Hwang: I do it, we do it, you do it. Why is
this gradual release of responsibility effective?
Students are able to ease into taking control of the experience. They
do not feel so on the spot as they might if they were just told to do
the activity. They will also likely feel less anxiety about performing a
new skill alone if they know that everyone else around them is also
taking part in the activity, not watching them try it. The students have
had a great deal of practice by the time they are doing the activity on
their own and are more confident.
Why is student reflection an important part of assessment?
Student reflection is an important part of assessment for a number of
reasons. Reflection requires students to reconsider what they have
experienced and think for themselves about what they have learned
rather than just completing the lesson and never really thinking about
the decisions they made again. Reflection also allows students to
create their own connections to what they have learned.

Animal Sounds: Learning About Pitch

How are students introduced to the concept of pitch?

Students are introduced to the concept of pitch by discussing what

pitch is to determine their level of prior understanding. They then
participate in an activity where they move their hands and bodies high,
low, or middle, following Ms. McKillop, and make high, low or middle
range pitches with their voices in response to their hand motions.
What do students learn through analyzing animal sounds?
The students learn students learn to develop their own ideas and
justify those ideas. They also learn to talk about their ideas and share
them with friends. Students also learn to listen critically to sounds.
How does Ms. McKillop integrate music, visual art, and science?
Ms. McKillop draws lines and asks the students to sing it along with her.
Science is integrated by connecting the study of pitch to the
curriculum about nature, specifically characteristics of animals and the
sounds that they make. Studying the pitch of animal sounds helps
students to grasp the musical concept of pitch. Ms. McKillop tries to
connect academic topics to natural topics because her Aboriginal
students relate well to nature and it helps them to better understand
abstract ideas.
Exploring Dance: Movement, Space, and Poetry
How does Mr. Gravelijn integrate poetry and dance?
Poetry and dance are integrated by having students create movements
to the words of the poem as it is being read. The students are then
asked to create a dance for the poem in a group.
What do students learn about personal and general space?
Students first learned the basic definitions of the terms as well as some
related vocabulary. They also learned movements that are appropriate
for each type of space.
Why is it helpful to co-create assessment criteria?
Co-creating assessment criteria allows students to be aware of what
will be expected of them, and can reference these expectations as they
participate in the activity. They also learn that they are responsible for
their own learning. When assessment criteria are co-created, students
can also evaluate themselves while waiting for the teacher to speak
with them. They can then continue to participate in the activity.