Teaching Music Through Composition: A Curriculum Using Technology - Hardcover

Freedman, Barbara

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0199840628 ISBN 13: 9780199840625

Publisher: OUP USA, 2013

Synopsis

Teaching Music through Composition offers a practical and fully multimedia curriculum of over 60 lesson plans in 29 units of study, including student assignments sheets, worksheets, handouts, and audio, MIDI, and video files on a companion website. Author and award-winning music educator Barbara Freedman presents classroom-tested ways of teaching a wide array of musical topics, including general/basic music theory, music appreciation and analysis, keyboarding, composing/arranging, even ear-training (aural theory) using technology that will directly engage students in the twenty first century. The larger curriculum objective of this book is to teach basic musical concepts through the creative process of music composition. The tool with which students create, edit, save, and reproduce music is the technology. As Freedman demonstrates, technology allows a musical experience for all skill levels in opportunities never before available to compose music without having to know much about traditional music theory or notation. All students can have meaningful hands-on applied learning experiences that will impact not only their music experience and learning but also their understanding and comfort with 21st century technology. Whether the primary focus of your class is to use technology to create music or to explore using technology as a unit or two, this book will show you how it can be done with practical, tried-and-true lesson plans and student activities.

About this title

Review:

Barbara Freedman has created the go-to resource for music educators, providing classroom tested lessons, projects, tips, and materials that will get any music educator up and running with a comprehensive approach to facilitating creative and relevant music-making experiences for their students. Freedman, a singular force in music technology thinking and practice, writes in an approachable, clear, and jargon-free style that will take the fear out of the equation for newcomers while also providing terrific projects and a unique perspective for experienced teachers. 'Teach music, the technology will follow' has become Freedman's rallying cry, and with Teaching Music Through Composition she has put her motto into practice. Every music teacher should add this incredible resource to their library, and investigate ways to implement these strategies into their programs. (James Frankel, Head of Digital Education for the Music Sales Group; Adjunct Professor, Teachers College Columbia University)

Teaching Music Through Composition: A Curriculum Using Technology is an excellent and practical guide for music educators striving to reach the 'Other 80%' (non-traditional music students). Drawing from her experience teaching one of the leading high school music technology programs in United States, Barbara Freedman shares her field-tested approaches for utilizing technology to unlock students' creativity and passion for music. This an essential addition to the library of all teachers of technology-based music classes. (Dr. Rick Dammers, Associate Professor of Music Education, Rowan University)

In Teaching Music through Composition, Freedman provides music educators a new and comprehensive curriculum for teaching all aspects of music at the secondary level. Freedman's approach acknowledges and exploits the prevalence of technology in our schools, the hands-on engagement with the elements of music made possible by these tools, and our increased understanding that students learn music best by 'doing' it. The book's well-thought-out sequence of activities, refined over many years of practice, are delivered in a straight-forward, down-to-earth manner that comes as no surprise to those who have followed Freedman's teaching and career. Furthermore, the book's premise - that by focusing on musical goals, students (and teachers) will be less distracted by the technology used to accomplish them - is right on target. (Dr. Scott Watson, Music Teacher, Parkland School District (Allentown, Pennsylvania), and Author, Using Technology to Unlock Musical Creativity (OUP))

Barbara Freeman's clearly outlined lessons emphasize the 'cool factor' that draws students into music learning and skill development. The 'tips' highlight Freedman's wisdom and successful classroom experiences. (Sandi MacLeod, Executive Director of Music-COMP)

About the Author:

Named a TI:ME Music Teacher of the Year, Barbara Freedman has been teaching music since 1997 and currently teaches Electronic Music & Audio Engineering at Greenwich High School in Connecticut. She is an author, consultant, trainer, and frequent presenter/clinician at local, state, and national in-service conferences and events.

About this edition

• Publisher: OUP USA
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0199840628
• ISBN 13: 9780199840625
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 338