Teaching for Musical Understanding

by Jackie Wiggins

Enriched by examples from actual teaching experience, Teaching for Musical Understanding is an exciting new look at the practice of teaching music. Drawing on current learning theory, the text shows teachers how to step out of the center of the music classroom - to guide, instead of direct, students to develop their own appreciation and understanding of music.

Genres: Music, Education

319 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 2000

Reviews

[Karen Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

After years of teaching, made me think more deeply and systematically about how and why I teach music and the kind of music education that students deserve. Nicely explains the social constructivist model and also fits well with Understanding by Design framework that my school is using to do curriculum mapping. Highly recommend for music educators!

[Stuart Macalpine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackie Wiggins does the best 'join the dots' explanation of the link between structuralist thought, Bruner, UDB and Gardner, that I at least have ever read. A work of genius. She spots the paradox that not many (no?) other writers on UDB spot, which is, if structuralism tells us the brain is hard wired for concepts, then actually you can't teach them anyway... In fact, you couldn't stop students developing them, even if you tried.

Of course, you can create an environment that promotes the construction of this 'inevitable' conceptual development, and that is apparently what we must do: so it is more reliable, more free from misconceptions and more accelerated in its growth... which as long as we have standardised tests at set ages, matters.

Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have to hurry?

Anyway, a great mind is at work in this text.

[Aaron Doerr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful for most musical educators. Makes you think.

[Scott Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Presents well thought-out rationale for constructivist approach to music learning.