tri-m music honor society
To Ramallah and Back: An 18-Month Virtual Exchange Kate Mitchell, WMEA State Chair, Tri-M Music Honor Society
F
Falguni Shah is a musician born in India and who now lives in New York. Her mu- sic is a fusion of Arabic and South Indian music with pop and Oriental styles all combined in one. She believes, “If there is anything that brings together people and not divide them, it is music. When people of different backgrounds become united by valuing the same ideas, I think it is very easy to fight anything. Radicalism and racism can be fought with a message of peace through beautiful music and inspiring lyrics.”
Isn’t that the truth! So, how can we get our music students to dig deeper into making these global connections? How do we make it meaningful while still meeting the demands of rigorous rehearsal and perfor- mance schedules? Global education is a dimension that runs through all curricular areas, no more so than in music.
More and more of our students have trav- elled abroad and have easy access to a world of information through the Internet. Social media allows us to connect with people all over the world. Our students are cruising through the Internet super- highway at warp speed. Even with these experiences, they still need to be guided through the process of discovery, so that they can have a deeper understanding of their own place in the world and how other people experience the world.
I started this journey – my high school ensembles and my Tri-M Club are par- ticipating in a virtual exchange program with a school in Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine with the goal to build mutual understanding and enhance student-to- student partnerships between the United States and the Muslim world. Since most schools outside of the United States and Canada do not have music classes as a part of the curriculum, our focus is a combina- tion of multiple curricular fields.
40
When I polled my students, only 42 per- cent of the students had heard of Palestine and only 2 percent could locate Palestine on a map. I also got comments and ques- tions like:
• “I thought Palestine didn’t exist.”
• “How are we going to talk to them, they don’t speak English?”
• “Isn’t that where terrorists come from?”
We all have work to do as educators in an increasingly connected world.
Making Social Connections
Throughout the next 18 months, our stu- dents will learn about the social aspects of each other’s culture. Through video lessons, Skype, Google classroom, and a website I developed, students will ex- plore popular and traditional music and the functions of music in society. We will virtually share traditional food (and hopefully recipes) to make on our own. Most importantly, students will commu- nicate and build connections with peers in Palestine and hopefully create lifelong friendships. I hope this experience will encourage my students to travel abroad to learn more about people.
Cultural Connections
Through the virtual platform, we will also explore the complex social, political, economic and religious divides in each area. Through sharing perspectives and engaging in dialogue, students will learn the political ideologies and complex re- ligious and economic systems that drive each country. We will explore what con- nectedness looks like and what it will be in the future for social and economic global sustainability.
Social Responsibility
One of the main goals is to have our stu- dents define and model what it means to
“Global education is a way of approaching everything we teach and how we teach it. It broadens horizons and encourages exploration of all subjects from a global perspective.”
be a global citizen, whether they are in Ramallah or Pewaukee. We want to break down the stereotypes and encourage social entrepreneurship. Throughout the next 18 months, my colleagues in Ramallah and I will have students develop a proposal to solve global issues – perhaps in the form of a non-profit organization.
Does this process mean more work for me? Yes. Do I believe in the opportunities I am giving my students? YES. Global educa- tion is a way of approaching everything we teach and how we teach it. It broadens horizons and encourages exploration of all subjects from a global perspective. It contributes to the whole curriculum and enhances our understanding of the world. I want to be a part of bringing people together through music.
You can follow this journey and my other global education ideas at “Mindfulness: A Journey of Self Discovery and Global Education” at
mkatemitchell.com.
Kate Mitchell is director of bands and music technology at Pewaukee High School and Horizon Elementary School. Email:
mitckat@pewaukeeschools.org
April 2016
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
