MUSIC 3306: Methods of Teaching Instrumental Music

3 semester hours

COURSE SYLLABUS

MWF, 9:00-9:50amInstructor:Dr. Scott Lubaroff

Utt 107Office:Utt 202E

University of Central MissouriPhone:x4680

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciencese-mail:

Department of Music

Purpose of the Course

Methods of Teaching Instrumental Music is designed to explore many of the practical, pragmatic, technical, philosophical, and administrative elements of the school instrumental music education program from elementary through secondary. Goals of this class, in tandem with the information and skills gained through MUSIC 2400 (Fundamentals of Conducting), MUSIC 3420 (Instrumental Conducting and Rehearsal Techniques), and the various brass, woodwind, string, and percussion classes, are for students to be strongly equipped to enter the music teaching profession with confidence, perspective, and the ability to have an immediate impact upon their students and school.

Belief Statement
The Central educator is a competent, caring, reflective practitioner committed to the premise that all can learn.
Mission
As a cornerstone of the institution for over 130 years, the University of Central Missouri's Teacher Education Program develops teachers and other school professionals who are well grounded in theory, display competence in content knowledge and instructional strategies, and possess the dispositions to ensure success for all learners. The Teacher Education Program prepares individuals as professional educators for an ever-changing, culturally diverse population. Faculty and candidates provide support and service to schools in meeting their present and future challenges by developing communities that learn through research and scholarly activities. Educator preparation is a campus-wide responsibility, a commitment that reflects the honor and worth of serving a vital profession.

Course Materials

Colwell, Richard J. and Goolsby, Thomas W. The Teaching of instrumental Music, 3rd ed. Upper SaddleRiver, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2002.

Wise, Phillip C. So… You’re the New Band Director: NOW WHAT? Oskaloosa, IA: C.L. Barnhouse Company,1996.

supplemental materials may also be drawn from(students not required to purchase):

Various authors. The Music Director’s Cookbook: Creative Recipes for a Successful Program. Galesvill, MD:Meredith Music Publications, 2005.

Instrumentalist Magazine (various articles)

Miles, Richard (comp.). Teaching Music Through Performance in Band, vol. I-VI. Chicago: GIA Publications.

Course Goals, Topics, and Activities

Throughout the course of the semester we will engage in a variety of projects and activities, including:

Philosophy

evaluation of materials

development of curricular framework and goals

administrative templates, professional documents, etc.

Programming – full ensemble, small ensemble, and solo

Commissioning

Lesson planning, warmup, and rehearsal issues

Classroom management

Grading

Recruiting, scheduling, and instrumentation issues

The importance of teaching fundamentals (the opportunity vs. the responsibility)

Private Study

Professional and community relationships

Course Activities and Grading

This class is most concerned with the synthesis and use of information and skills – not so much with the reproduction of facts. Therefore, grading will weigh heavily on daily preparation and participation (and therefore attendance – see below).

Daily assignments and readings, as well as a series of smaller and medium-sized projects will be expected to be completed at a professional level.

There will frequently be guest speakers/presenters for this class, as well as potential for student “lab” classes to be brought to campus and/or off-campus “field trips” in which you will be asked to interact with students in a variety of manners. After each of these interactions you will each submit a single-page reflection/evaluation.

Students will also be expected to perform a variety of observation/reflection exercises and accumulate all of the semester’s notes, journals, reflections, assignments, and projects into a comprehensive “notebook” that will then be submitted as a culminating final semester project, then meant to be useful as a substantial resource as you enter the teaching profession.

Attendance

This class depends heavily on participation. Students are expected to be on time and in attendance at every class. If you must miss a class due to illness, every effort must be made to make contact in advance. In all cases of absence, students are required to speak with the instructor. Unexcused tardies and/or absences will have a severe impact upon your final grade. Two unexcused tardies constitute one unexcused absence. Two unexcused absences will lower your semester grade by one complete letter, and each successive unexcused absence will result in one letter grade reduction.

Students with documented disabilities who are seeking academic accommodations should contact the Office of Accessibility Services, Union 220, (Voice and TTY) 660-543-4421.

As part of this department’s ongoing commitment to building a positive, student-centered learning community that supports the success of every student, the faculty member instructing this course participates in the UCM Early Alert Program (

Please visit for a list of all available support services and tutoring programs available on this campus.