Teaching folk music in schools

Subject: Teaching folk music in schools
From: Fay
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 10:16 AM

Hello, help with my next assignment please...

I am writing a paper on the benefits/uses of folk music/song and dance within school contexts - either as part of the curriculum or as extra-curricular activities.

I have a list of questions (see below) which I am asking anyone with experience in the matter to answer, or please just give me your comments on its relevence or whatever else you think about it.

Ta, Fay xx

In what context were you working in a school? regular music teacher, one off workshop, series of after school sessions etc…


What kind of material did you present? Music/song/dance/history/folklore etc…


What are your reasons for using folk material in your educating process?


What teaching methods do you employ during your sessions (please give a mark of 1-10 describing the importance of each in an average session)

Historical instruction
Practical
Experimental
Research
Learning by ear
Learning from notation
Disscussion/question-answer
1-1        Instruction
Group instruction
Student led
Tutor led


Did you make use of 'world music'? From where, for what purpose?


How did you approach the issue of introducing music from different cultures?


How important do you think it is to place folk material in a context, or can you just use the material as part of the normal musical repertoire?


Is there anything inherent in folk music, song and dance that has specific educational benefits?


Do you include improvisation/composition as a part of your course of education? What relationship does this have to the use of traditional material?


What aspects of education can be successfully fulfilled by using folk music/song or dance?


Is there enough provision within the current system for students to have access to traditional song/music/dance? How would you like the system to change?


If you teach in a position where you submit students for Associated Board exams, are you aware of the Traditional based equivalent, do you use it, why/why not?


This could turn into a long thread, if you would rather PM your answers back to me, that would be fine too.

Thanks, Fay xx

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: M.Ted
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 12:13 PM

Tough to answer all those questions, Fay---but I will give you a brief synopsis of the different ways I have used folk music--

First, what did I do? Taught language skills, taught music, as both a teacher and assistant, prepared and delivered special presentations, and presented extracuricular activies--

I used it all--history, music, etc, though in different contexts--

In music classes folk and traditional music was great because it was familiar and had great stories that went along with it, so students were more motivated to learn, and the learned a bit of culture/history to give what they were learning context(also, interesting stories are very important relief for beginning instrumentalists because the process is physically difficult and frustrating)

Folk songs are idea for vocal music activities as well, first because the skills-to-return level is fairly low because by its very nature, folk music has to be easy to master--second because familiarty made music reading a lot easier--


In language arts(English), folk songs were great subjects for discussion and made writing assignments painless-Also, they are great vehicles for making history come alive--

I also created special educational programs that I took around, including state history, labor movement, the obligatory civil rights presentations, and international folk music for special multicultural programs--

Folk music and, occasionally, folk dance, are really a great way to add interest to core curriculum subjects, and, because you can use them in experiencer, experienced, and experiencing modes, they are very flexible.

As to the "is there enough" question, I am not involved in edcuation anymore, so I don't really know, though I would tend to doubt it--the thing is though, as an educator, even if there is none, you can make it happen on your own, by simply including it in your lesson plans--

I am very dubious about adding a formal "folk music/dance/arts" curriculum of any kind of educational program, for lots of reasons, the most obvious of which simply is that the formal academic structure renders even the most interesting things insipid through rote repetition--better to provide access to resources for those inspired to use them and leave it at that.

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: Alio
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 02:12 PM

I used to be a primary school head teacher (ugh!!) and brought in 2 artists (Pete Coe and Roy Bailey) with the intention of enhancing the curriculum.

Roy worked with the whole school (210 Bangladeshi children)teaching them songs and making it a lot of fun.

Pete Coe worked with KS2 pupils, taking one of the history topics and working it into music, song and dance. Both sessions were very much tutor led, but both very participative.

There definitely is not enough space or provision for this form in the present curriculum sadly - it's very much up to the creativity of the staff.

Ali

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 03:28 AM

Giving away my age----! Between 1935 and '45 I can recall at school
"When First I went a-Wagonning"
"Early one Morning, just as The Sun was Rising"
"Rio Grande"
--and a plethora of translated-from-the-Gaelic songs. There were a wheen mair which slip the memory now---

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: Gurney
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 03:48 AM

I remember getting 'The Keeper' and 'The Lincolnshire Poacher' by the music teacher.
It put me off folk music for nearly 20 years.
It might have been different if we'd had someone like Pete Coe.
I'd say, from my reaction, that you need someone who can get the kids interested.
Listen to the 'Big Yin' on the subject. Yeah, me too.

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 04:45 AM

This won't help a lot with your assigment, Fay!

I can remember as a kid in the 50s, we sang stuff from the Cecil Sharp collection at school. It never put me of -- quite the opposite (although I've never used a piano accompanist since those days). Some of it was British and some from the Appalachians, so it was a good grounding for when I took a stronger interest in my teens.

Mind you, when I was about six I had to spend a tern at another shool (long story, not relevant), and they did folk dancing. It never made sense to me then, and still doesn't! The only person who ever managed to get me to do folk dancing since I left there was Sybil Clarke of Blessed Memory, and even the Kray brothers wouldn't have argued with her.

Ad then again, my grandmother wore clogs ...

Steve "Sedentary" Parkes

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 06:47 AM

I am an elementary music teacher (ages 5-11) in New Hampshire, USA, and the core of my curriculum is folk music!

what context were you working in a school? regular music teacher, one off workshop, series of after school sessions etc…
I work full-time in my own classroom at one school (population 350). All of the children have music with me twice a week, for about 35 minutes at a time, during their school day.


t kind of material did you present? Music/song/dance/history/folklore etc…
A wise-ass answer would be "yes!" I teach songs, play-party games, throwing in history, geography, folklore, literature, and the poetic essence of the songs. I also teach music literacy, intonation, harmony singing, rhythm skills, listening skills, and general all-around Golden Rule social skills!


t are your reasons for using folk material in your educating process?
Because I love it, and if I don't love something, I don't teach it. Folk material connects me directly to those who have gone before. I try to impart to my students the wonder of the fact that we are singing actual words our forebears sang, hearing the same sounds, feeling the same vibrations in our heads, etc. And the music is still so alive, so topical to today!


t teaching methods do you employ during your sessions (please give a mark of 1-10 describing the importance of each in an average session
I made 1= primary importance   10- least importance

Historical instruction 4
Practical 2
Experimental 5
Research (mine or my students? Mine- 4, students- 8)
Learning by ear 2-3 depending on age of student
Learning from notation 3-4 depending on age of student
Disscussion/question-answer 4
1-1 nstruction 8 (no time!)
Group instruction 1
Student led 5- happens sometimes, not often enough
Tutor led ???


Did you make use of 'world music'? From where, for what purpose?
Oh, yes. From all over- Africa, Japan, China, Latin America, - my school often has cultural ambassadors who spend the school year with us!


did you approach the issue of introducing music from different cultures?
Very matter-of-fact so as to make it seem very natural. Lots of praise for "mastering" a foreign language. The kids love the music- we enjoy the variety.


important do you think it is to place folk material in a context, or can you just use the material as part of the normal musical repertoire? I try to use a context AS PART OF the normal musical repertoire! I try to give some background for everything I teach, however brief. But I think it's very important for the children to know where a song is from, and what purpose (holiday, work song, etc) the song serves.


Is there anything inherent in folk music, song and dance that has specific educational benefits?
Music is a vital part of every culture. Hear and "know" the music and you know something about the culture or historical period you didn't know before and couldn't learn in any other way. Music also enters the brain differently than written or spoken facts- and it "sticks" longer. Children are often "kinesthetic" learners, and teaching a dance from another culture or historical period puts their whole body into that context. I could go on, but I'll leave it at that for now!



Do you include improvisation/composition as a part of your course of education? What relationship does this have to the use of traditional material?
Some. Some songs beg for new verses.
If we are learning Asian music, we might improvise on recorders or xylophones on a pentatonic scale.
When I do a blues unit, my 5th graders (10-11 year olds) might be given a I-IV-V-I chord progression and told to write a 12-bar blues verse or two.
My 4th graders might write a vers-chorus song as part of a unit.
The list goes on...

What aspects of education can be successfully fulfilled by using folk music/song or dance?
What aspects of education can't be successfully fulfilled by using folk music/song or dance?
But a short list includes:
Maths
History
Geography
Literature
Reading and language skills
physical education
art
health
the aforementioned Golden Rule

Is there enough provision within the current system for students to have access to traditional song/music/dance? How would you like the system to change?
At my school I wish for longer blocks of time with them. We just get started on something, and they have to go on to another class, and I've got another bunch waiting in the wings. But I really can't complain- I have an exceptional job!

Fay, I'd be happy to talk with you some more. Obviously I'm from the US and you're writing from what I'm guessing to be the UK. But PM me if you want more from me!

Allison

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: Allan C.
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 07:53 AM

Please permit a slight digression here. I noticed the reference to history with regard to folk music, however, geography isn't mentioned. A fun way to teach geography is to make use of geographically tied folk songs. Our own Art Thieme created a map of the United States that includes markings indicating places of origin of certain songs. He used this tool many times when performing at schools.

Another aside here: I sincerely hope that your assignment will influence more teachers to continue or to initiate the teaching of folk music in their schools. I hope they will examine new ways to apply this versatile tool to their curricula.

Thank you.

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: GUEST,Hugh Jampton
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 08:02 AM

Next monday (1-3-04), BBC2, "Terry Jones` Medieval Lives" is all about our minstels, their trials and tribulations. These programmes are ideal material for your curriculum. They are informative, entertaining and pitched at level to satisfy most viewers.

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 10:28 AM

Sounds wonderful, Hugh- I wish I could watch it from here!
Allison

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 04:45 PM

Well, my son's car doesn't have collision insurance, only liability. Either I get it repaired to the tune of $1500 or I fork over the same amount for another old beater car. So it looks as though the trip to the UK is off for at least another year, unless some fairy godmother or sugar daddy shows up SOON!

Please send positive car-thoughts- the kid's in a catch-22 right now. Can't get a job without a car, can't get a car without a job.

Allison

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: 8_Pints
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 09:12 PM

Hi Fay,
I used to use lots of folk music and song in my classroom when I was a "real" class teacher. I now work for the Education Support Team for Looked after children so I don't have the same opportunities.

Have you got the EFDSS education resource packs? I did a whole term's project on May, culminating in a Mummer's play and performance of lots of traditional songs.
I also have the Midwinter pack but have not actually taught it.

When I was a music co-ordinator I used the "Growing with Music" scheme which has all it's roots in traditional music - well worth checking out.

I know the "Voices foundation" does lots of teaching in schools using this approach, their website should give you lots more info.

Hope this is helpful, PM me if you want to know more. (via 8-Pints to save me changing to my cookie every time I wat to post something!)

Sue vG

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: Gypsy
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 10:41 PM

Well, was never a teacher, but WAS a student once upon a time. We had folk/world music when i was growing up, cuz it was in military towns. Made us more of "one classroom" when we were singing stuff from EVERYONES cultures. Fun, too.

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 06:52 AM

oops- wrong thread! Sorry-
Allison

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: Fay
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 08:54 AM

Thanks everyone whos given me experiences or ways to look forward.

I will try to follow up the leads,

Does anyone know anything about the traditional music exams, I've been trying to get hold of their syllabus' but can't track them down on the internet. I think its through London College of Music and Media, but can't find anything on their site.

More experiences of what people learnt/found as students would also be good, I've only been looking from the teacher perspective so far...

Ta, Fay xxx

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 02:22 PM

Allison:

We've been doing folk music programs in schools for more than twenty years and all during that time we have been trying to convince teachers to integrate folk music into their curiculum. You made us feel happy to know that at least one teacher is doing just what we've been advocating.

Thanks.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: Jen M
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 05:59 PM

I am a substitute teacher currently in a year long emergency sub slot. I also frequently sub in music classes (including twice for periods of several months, not because I have any music training but just because I like to sing.) In my classroom I include music whenever appropriate to the curriculim. For example, when we studied the New England region I gave the students a copy of the Greenland Fisheries (not a New England song but gives a good picture of whaling.)and sang it for them. Right now we're reading "Sara Plain and Tall" by Patricia McLaughlin, Sara sings "Sumer is Ecumen In" and Tomorrow I'll play them a recording of my daughter's former high school choir singing it. In older grades I've played civil war songs or sang "Sweet Betsey from Pike" because it was included in a Social Studies Text.

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: bet
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 10:05 AM

I'm finding all the questions you are asking way too lengthy. I am an elementary music teacher and have been in the buisness for 30+ years. I'd be glad to answer a few but my mind doesn't retain that many ideas without referring back to the top for every one idea. I don't have that kind of time. I do share , please shorten your list. bet

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: Willa
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 12:11 PM

Bet

You could print out the list of questions so that you can refer to it more easily. *grin*

Subject: RE: Teaching folk music in schools
From: Fay
Date: 01 Mar 04 - 07:40 AM

Here's a shortened version...

What kind of situations do you teach in?

What 'folk' material do you use?

How do you use it - get them to do it, play it to them. study it, etc...

Do you use 'world music'? Why/why not?

Should there be more in the curriculum? how could it fit in?

Hope this is easier.

Thanks for your time, Fay xx