Music in Schools Today: Understanding Cultures

In the wake of world events, it is more important than ever to teach our children to respect and understand our diverse cultures and traditions.

Kids Understanding Cultures View online photo album

The Music in Schools Today Understanding Cultures program uses world music to teach core curricula, utilizing curricular resources that teachers and students love. Begun in 2000, this program offers an accessible and sophisticated introduction to basic music and movement, while integrating science, reading and social studies with world music.

Artists illustrate how to work with children in a cultural context, as they provide technique and inspiration. Each Understanding Cultures residency is hand-tailored by our resident artists, working in conjunction with classroom teachers. Schools may choose to concentrate on an artist residency leading to a performance; school-wide lecture/demonstrations; and/or music therapy classes for the most at-risk children.

Resources to help teachers incorporate world music into the core curriculum include Putumayo Music's "World Playground," with teacher training manuals, world maps, Student Passports and CDs, in addition to our materials on specific cultures as well as assessment tools. All of these resources meet the guidelines set forth in The California State Frameworks.

Understanding Cultures residency subjects include:

Learning Through Music: La Llorona/The Weeping Woman Residency Program

Chinese-American Music & Movement (K-3)

Regional Philippine Folk Music and Dance (K-8)

Roots of American Music (K-12)

Flamenco! History, Costumes & Dance (K-12)

Afro-Caribbean Music (Pre K-12)

Dear Meg,

Thank you once more for the opportunities given to Buena Vista Elementary School by Music in Schools Today. By bringing your "Understanding Cultures Through Music" program to us, you have deeply enriched the musical experiences of our young students.

Tracy Welch continued to provide his deep knowledge and spirited instruction when teaching our Kindergarten and First Grade classes. The children and teachers thoroughly enjoyed him, and all learned a great deal about music and the way that music can bridge cultural differences. In a world that is becoming increasingly complex and increasingly smaller, this is truly a gift.

We are very grateful to you for your kindness in offering us these programs for free. We are, of course, a public school, with an emphasis on Spanish language immersion. Most of our children are of Latino heritage; over 65% qualify for free school lunch.

It is of great importance to all of us that you have given us access to a fine instructor and a wonderful curriculum. We simply could not have afforded the program otherwise. As you are doubtless aware, the current budget crisis has put us into even deeper quandary as to where to spend what little money we have. The children need so much in so many different areas of the arts that we could not even begin to address their needs without the kindness of organizations like yours.

We look forward to continuing our artistic collaboration with MuST. Please consider us whenever you have any further offerings, as we have greatly benefited from your fine program.

Sincerely,
Bob Armstrong, Art Coordinator
Buena Vista Elementary School
San Francisco, CA

Final Composition Project from Two Students

Music

Music makes us think about the peace we have for each other.
Music makes us forget all of our problems.
It makes us think about our futures and our lives in this world.
Music makes us want to get up and dance.
Music makes us think about the music class that we had with Tracy.
Music makes us think about what we will learn about music in our future.
Music makes us think about all the sounds of music that we have heard in the past.
Music makes us think about what kind of music our ancestors played and listened to.
Music makes us wonder if it could make a difference.
Music makes us think about what the world would be without it.
Music makes us dream of all the things that we could do.
Music makes us think about where the music that we listen to came from.
Music makes us want to live forever.
Music makes us think.

~ By Esbeida and Danielle

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