Music, the Brain & Learning

Students will explore current research and best practices in music learning and teaching with respect to brain anatomy, development, and function, psychological and sociological intersections, personal learning styles and habits and music teaching methods. Culturally responsive teaching will be examined as it pertains to accommodating differently abled music learners, students of widely varying cultures and traditional music learning and teaching methodologies. Course participants will examine current practice as well as analyze their own practice and devise practical approaches to planning for and implementing music instruction. The course is designed to allow participant learners to pursue their personal interests and professional practices and to provide an opportunity for reflection and revision or reinforcement of their practices.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Analyze their own personal learning and instructional style

• Identify and use the concepts and practices of action research

• Conduct a short action research project in a personal area of interest

• Identify basic brain function and anatomy as it relates to learning, retention and mastery

• Discuss brain function as it applies to music instruction and practice

• Identify the connections between music learning, instruction and brain function with cultural relevance, diverse learners, and current music instructional practice

• Apply principles of music learning, teaching and brain function to planning for music instruction