Gospel Music Pedagogies for the Classroom
Despite limited training with cross-cultural musical styles, performing ensemble directors often select a range of musical genres and styles to assure comprehensiveness in their music programs, even when those genres are beyond their own cultural heritages and experiences. Gospel music, as one example, has become a curriculum staple in many choral programs and the genre’s popularity makes it appealing to study and perform. Amid this appeal, however, is the need for culturally-valid pedagogical strategies that’s often missing from course offerings in music teachers’ training. This course is aims to be educative, participatory, and fun, and designed to provide music teachers with the cultural knowledge, musical skills, and dispositions required for teaching gospel music in today’s classrooms. No previous experience or religious affiliation necessary.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
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Articulate philosophical, historical, and musical rationales for including gospel music as a part of a comprehensive music program.
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Review laws governing the use of religion in teaching and to distinguish between pedagogical strategies for "teaching about religion" versus "teaching for religion."
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Critically review and analyze resources for teaching gospel music and hone skills for determining "quality" in available gospel music octavos.
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Teach a variety of gospel music styles with cultural knowledge and culturally-valid pedagogies.