Music education and the brain
Dr Anita Collins presents new research on the impact of music education on a child's brain. Thought-provoking questions for inspiring K-6 whole school conversations accompany this resource.
Music education and the brain video
Duration 11 minutes 12 seconds
Transcript of 'Music education and the brain' video
Reflective task for schools
An optional reflective task has been developed to maximise the impact of this resource in schools. The reflective task involves answering questions that have been broken into three parts:
- Before viewing
- During viewing
- After viewing.
The reflective task could be completed individually, or as a group (for example, in a staff meeting). It is acknowledged that the most powerful learning occurs when school staff have the opportunity to engage in collegial discussion.
Before viewing
Consider the NESA time allocation for the Creative Arts and the expectation of a minimum of 1.5 hours per week (inclusive of all 4 artforms). Is our weekly time allocation for teaching the creative arts consistent with PDHPE, HSIE and Science and Technology?
Are we valuing the creative arts within the classroom in the same way that we do our co-curriculum programs?
During viewing
How does music education link to other areas of learning?
Reflecting on the research discussed by Dr Collins, discuss the relationship between music and literacy?
Has this research altered your thinking about why you should you be teaching music?
How and why should we teach music?
Dr Collins points out that the research shows that we should be teaching music:
- consistently and frequently throughout a child?s education
- inclusive of the performance learning experience of performing from our syllabus - singing, moving, playing
- as a group but with time for individual exploration and practice.
What does music consist of in your classroom? Does it incorporate all the learning experiences of listening, performing and organising sound?
As Dr Collins suggests movement is paramount to music learning is this consistent with your teaching and learning program?
After viewing
What can we do to reflect this research into music education within our teaching and learning programs and across our school?
What do we need to do to support any potential changes to the way we teach music education in the classroom?
Further information
How playing an instrument benefits your brain - Anita Collin