Course content

This course introduces the field of music education, with an emphasis on central practices, theories, and research. The course provides a cultural and historical backdrop for practices and thinking about the relationship between music, education, learning, and teaching. The course has a practical introduction to, and a critical perspective on, dominating music education practices in Norwegian and European institutions, and introduces decolonizing practices and perspectives from music technology within a wider specter of music pedagogies. The concept of music in various music education theories and practices will be discussed and investigated, with a particular focus on concepts, models, and theories in the areas of music education research. The course deals with basic pedagogical perspectives, music pedagogical directions, critical and decolonizing perspectives on music learning, music teaching and learning in formal and informal contexts, music and diversity, music technology, curricula and educational sociology, discourses, and political structures and ideologies in the music pedagogical field.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

the student is expected to complete the course by:

• having in-depth knowledge of music education as a field of theories, practices, and research traditions.
• having knowledge to teach music from different perspectives on music and learning
• having in-depth knowledge and understanding of different music teaching practices, music technologies and their regulatory structures
• having a critical perspective on experiences and practices, as well as the dominant institutional conventions.

Skills

the student is expected at the completion of the course to:

• be able to analyze and discuss issues in music education
• be able to independently and critically reflect on ideas of music teaching and learning
• be able to evaluate and communicate music education theory in a sensitive, insightful and critical way
• be able to teach from a diversity of music pedagogical perspectives, in a sensitive, insightful and critical way.

General competence

the student is expected to complete the course by:

• understand and evaluate connections between traditions and ideologies in music pedagogical practice have insight into how music as a subject has developed in primary school
• have insight into music education in a variety of contexts

Learning methods and activities

The teaching forms in the course are practical and theoretical, and include both musical activities, reading, writing, and discussing. Activities in the course include workshops, lectures, and individual and group assignments, as well as a live production / production.

Compulsory assignments

• Required coursework 1 (written)
• Required coursework 2 (written)
• Required coursework 3 (oral)
• Required coursework 4 (oral)

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Elementary teacher education, first three years, with music as a subject.

Course materials

Syllabus and any supplementary material will be posted on Blackboard prior to the course start-up.