Read on Twitter
Having a go at a thread, based on the #modelmusiccurriculum debate. Have spent the last few years researching with music teachers (MTs)across several different countries. This not a report on data or analysis; merely a quick summary of experience, simplified for the 280 limit…
1.The disaggregation of instrumental learning from classroom-based music curriculum to which all pupils are entitled is not universal. Many MTs I am working with are a bit mystified by this. It’s all part of the same offer, and many teachers don’t understand any separation.
There is rarely a specialist/non-specialist paradigm. Or generalist/specialist. Or instrumental/classroom.Just different training/background/role/experience/etc. Oh, except Expert Singer vs Non-Expert Singer-see this one a lot!
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen"> Sidebar:
There is some evidence suggesting correlation between countries for whom graded exams feature and used to be coloured pink on the map, and countries in which this separation exists. More on this in another thesis… 2. Nearly all teachers I speak to firmly believe that
their own experience (whether of 2 mnths/20 yrs) is representative of others’. Reminder of how impossible it is to intuit others’ experiences; important to be reflexive and able to challenge own thinking.Most MTs I have met think that they do this already https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😀" title="Grinsendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Grinsendes Gesicht">
3.Two debates seem exist everywhere: The Notation Debate, and The Decolonisation Debate. The notation debate seems to sound pretty much the same in any language, but the decolonisation one is super-different. The main difference I have observed is that there…
…isn’t much of a challenge to it. I’ve never heard anyone suggest that expansion of focus (in terms of concept and content) beyond WestArt Music and the Great White Dead Guys would risk an impoverished education; only that it is a good thing (warning:gross over-simplification)
4.A unified theme in all countries in which I have been working is the belief that it doesn’t matter how well-funded, represented, advocated for music ed is; or how brilliant the NC (or equiv) is (more on this in a moment), training and support for teachers is the issue &
without this, the quality of the curric on offer $ to do it is meaningless. I have seen some innovative approaches to training, but none of which seem to be perceived as having the desired effect.I note that other countries see provision of training as the critical focus,not SoW.
5.There are some stonking NCs/SoW floating around in other places which make publications here look like a bit like a kid’s crayon drawing in comparison.Advisors I’ve spoken to have drawn on Paynter, Green,Elliott,Biesta et al; along with musos, academics, teachers, kids, parents
…there are some great models of consultation out there. 6. Last thought: the degree of critical engagement here is the envy of many teachers elsewhere.Many have expressed frustration that no-one is challenging gvmnt edicts, the only option is acceptance
Teachers in some countries have been threatened with fines-and in one case imprisonment-for daring to teach music which is seen to have political affiliation.Many suffer a curric which changes every 3-6mnths as the ruling party changes.
One teacher was cautioned for attending an int. music ed conference where she may have come across ‘dissident views’. I cannot emphasis the degree to which the critical debate over the last week on #MMC is such a privilege for us to be able to engage with, and should be embraced.
Being urged to find positives, shutting down of debate, lack of transparency in doc version/ replacement, use of celebs as advocates, absence of response to challenge, are all frustrating characteristics of the control in non-demo countries that MTs have expressed in interviews
Done. First ever Twitter Mega-Thread. I think this means I complete Level 1 now? https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen">
