Intro to Music Ed Chapter 8: Content of Music Classes and Rehearsals by Zach Sorkin

1. What five things could students in a band learn in conjunction with "The Stars and Stripes Forever" by Sousa, in addition to playing the right notes at the right time?

zsorkin — 2025-03-26 19:34:45 UTC

According to the reading, they could and should learn:

The syntax of musical sounds
The song as a work of music
Understandings about musical processes and organization
The skills needed to perform and listen to music
Attitudes about a particular piece and music in general

2. Think of examples of three different types of musical skills.

zsorkin — 2025-03-26 19:35:05 UTC

Sight singing a melody
Clapping and/or playing 16th note rhythms
Vibrato on a string instrument

3. Why is a sense of musical syntax so important in learning music?

zsorkin — 2025-03-26 19:35:20 UTC

Because in order to appreciate or recognize music as more than just a random assortment of sounds, students need to understand the patterns of sound that make up music and learn aurally (through listening) how music is made.

4. What is a concept?

zsorkin — 2025-03-26 19:35:31 UTC

According to the dictionary definition, a concept is "an abstract or generic idea generalized from particular instances".

5. Why should students develop concepts about music?

zsorkin — 2025-03-26 19:35:45 UTC

Because concepts help teach students to think about music. For example, if a student is never taught or explained to what the concept of a melody is, then they'll never be able to appreciate a melody in a piece of music that they hear.

6. How does musician-like thinking about the song "Simple Gifts" differ from everyday, ordinary thinking about it?

zsorkin — 2025-03-26 19:36:15 UTC

Everyday, ordinary thinking usually perceives music as something to accompany other activities, while musician-like thinking would consider a piece of music such as "Simple Gifts" an object in itself to be thought about, analyzed, and appreciated.

7. Why is it very desirable for students in music classes to acquire favorable attitudes toward the subject?

zsorkin — 2025-03-26 19:36:43 UTC

Because music is one of the only subjects where, if a student decides they don't like music, they have the free will to refrain from listening to it and/or participating in it entirely (unlike reading, writing, or math, which are required in most peoples' daily lives).

8. What factors affect the attitudes people adopt toward music?

zsorkin — 2025-03-26 19:36:59 UTC

Familiarity--people tend to like things similar to what they already know they like.
The person who suggests the change--if a student likes their teacher, the teacher will be more effective in developing or changing their attitude toward music.
Friends and peers' attitudes (especially in adolescent students)
Family influences

9. What does the word "relevant" mean in discussions of curriculum?

zsorkin — 2025-03-26 19:37:21 UTC

The word "relevant" refers to when a topic or subject matter is given meaning through a teacher's attitude and strategy in organizing and presenting it, and finding a way to relate the topic to the students and make it personally resonate with them.