SECONDARY GENERAL MUSIC DIVISION Brayer Teague, Vice President
21st Century Skills– You’re Teaching Them Already!
21st Century Skills are becoming a talk- ing point for educators in all disciplines all across the country. Teachers of the arts have an opportunity to be meaning- ful contributors to this dialogue. Peruse this list of selected “21st Century Skills, and see if you think any of these traits are developed in your music classroom?
Critical Tinking, Innovation, Prob- lem Solving, Communication & Col- laboration, Creativity, Information Literacy, Media Literacy, Flexibility & Adaptability, Initiative & Self Direction, Productivity & Account- ability, Leadership & Responsibility, Cross-Cultural Interaction.
I would suspect that your current cur- riculum already provides opportunities to expose your students to many (if not all) of these skills.
As I was reflecting on some of the music classes that are offered in the school district in which I teach, a few examples came to mind quickly:
Creativity: Our Digital Music Com- position course is similar to many that are offered in music programs across our state. Composition courses offer, more than performance courses, the opportu- nity for students to really nurture their creativity. Interpreting someone else’s composition in a performance class is mostly what I call “re-creative.” Writing your own music is truly creative, and courses that foster this skill are–in my opinion–solidly providing the foundation for an important 21st Century Skill.
Initiative & Self Direction: Our Jazz Combo program is faculty coached, but largely self-directed by student leaders within the jazz curriculum. Students for their own small ensembles, set rehearsal schedules, select music, and organize the materials needed for each rehearsal. Additionally, students are asked to take the initiative to schedule and prepare for performances within the community.
Information & Media Literacy: Today’s student is expected to use a myriad of technologies. Many music programs implement learning software like Smart- Music, or notation software like Finale or Sibelius. In our district we document student music tours by teaching students Blogging-etiquette and empowering students to share their experiences and re- flections in ‘real time’ as the tour unfolds.
Leadership & Responsibility: Many school music programs, including the one in which I teach, put a heavy emphasis on developing student leadership. Our marching band’s Student Leadership Team spends a full week every August training to lead their peers. We being with a day on a high-ropes course, and continue with both classroom and expe- riential training in the days that follow. All three of our performance areas (band/ choir/orchestra) have student ‘Boards’ that include many leadership positions, such as music librarians, publicity chairs, historians, equipment managers, etc.
Critical Tinking & Problem Solving: Many of our band students participate in a “build your own instrument” unit that
allows learners to collaborate in small cooperative groups and study the science of sound. I am always amazed at the resultant products that emerge from this unit. Te success of our students in this realm is tied directly to their ability to think critically and solve problems in the context of a complex group project.
It’s easy to find multiple examples of 21st Century Skills being delivered to students in the classes you already teach. I encourage you–as the national dialogue continues to gain traction–to share with your school administrators and Board of Education examples of how your cur- riculum supports these skills.
Looking ahead to the 2011 All-State . . . All-State Composers
Showcase Concert–Paul Wertico
Te All-State Composers Showcase Concert will be held on Tursday after- noon–at 3:00 p.m.–in the Civic Center Teatre. I am sure you will enjoy the 2011 Guest Artist and Co-Moderator, Mr. Paul Wertico (
www.paulwertico. com). As most of you know, Mr. Wertico is a seven time Grammy Award winning artist who has performed all over the world. Currently an Assistant Professor and Head of the Jazz and Contemporary Music Studies program at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, Mr. Wertico will be joined by musicians from the Mid-East/Mid- West Alliance to share music from their latest composition/recording project, “Impressions of a City.”
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Illinois Music Educator | Volume 71 Number 2
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