Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Music Education
What are the Common Core State Standards?
The Common Core State Standards are a compilation of American education initiatives aimed at bringing diverse state curricula in math and ELA into alignment based upon the principles of standards-based education reform.
Math and ELA are considered basic, universal skills to all subjects which is why the CCSS has the potential to equip students with improved tools to access other content areas such as the arts, physical education, social studies, and science. Making connections with the CCSS will also help students develop a broad base of knowledge in every content area as well as building fundamental skills necessary for future careers or college study.
CCSS and Music Education
Within the framework of music education, common core connections within music consist of two main types of alignment: cross-curriculum integration based upon explicit references to the arts and major parallels in broad goals and thinking skills that are universally recognized as 21st century modes for learning.
ELA - In addition to music's hands-on approach, MVS music students use a variety of reading strategies to help them understand the elements of music (rhythm, melody, harmony, form, texture, and timbre). Two comprehension techniques include close reading (the careful, sustained reading and interpretation of a passage of text) and decoding of complex text (determining the literal meaning of words or phrases, either by the context of the sentence or by researching the definition). Employing these new strategies will help students develop higher levels of vocabulary which will open doors to future learning.
Music students are also expected to demonstrate their knowledge through writing. This is especially true in the older grades where learning focuses on broader concepts which requires students to organize their thoughts onto paper and present their findings through dialogue and conversation with their peers and educators.
Math - Music and math have strong connections to one another. Fractions are used extensively in regards to notation and the reading of rhythm. Research finds that proficiency of fractions is a major predictor of later success in Algebra. Music study also supports student understanding of percentages, proportions, sequences through the analysis of rhythm, musical form, and melodic contour.
One of the most important musical concepts that helps lay the foundation for future success in mathematics is the concept of musical patterns. Recognizing patterns at the early elementary level helps children understand larger more complicated concepts later on in their education. Because of this, music is often used to help children understand patterns aurally as well as visually. Pattern instruction in younger grades is also key to the idea of "emergent mathematics", which parallels the notion of "emergent literacy".
For more information on the Common Core State Standards, please go to http://www.corestandards.org/ or http://advocacy.nafme.org/common-core-state-standards/ to learn more.
The Common Core State Standards are a compilation of American education initiatives aimed at bringing diverse state curricula in math and ELA into alignment based upon the principles of standards-based education reform.
Math and ELA are considered basic, universal skills to all subjects which is why the CCSS has the potential to equip students with improved tools to access other content areas such as the arts, physical education, social studies, and science. Making connections with the CCSS will also help students develop a broad base of knowledge in every content area as well as building fundamental skills necessary for future careers or college study.
CCSS and Music Education
Within the framework of music education, common core connections within music consist of two main types of alignment: cross-curriculum integration based upon explicit references to the arts and major parallels in broad goals and thinking skills that are universally recognized as 21st century modes for learning.
ELA - In addition to music's hands-on approach, MVS music students use a variety of reading strategies to help them understand the elements of music (rhythm, melody, harmony, form, texture, and timbre). Two comprehension techniques include close reading (the careful, sustained reading and interpretation of a passage of text) and decoding of complex text (determining the literal meaning of words or phrases, either by the context of the sentence or by researching the definition). Employing these new strategies will help students develop higher levels of vocabulary which will open doors to future learning.
Music students are also expected to demonstrate their knowledge through writing. This is especially true in the older grades where learning focuses on broader concepts which requires students to organize their thoughts onto paper and present their findings through dialogue and conversation with their peers and educators.
Math - Music and math have strong connections to one another. Fractions are used extensively in regards to notation and the reading of rhythm. Research finds that proficiency of fractions is a major predictor of later success in Algebra. Music study also supports student understanding of percentages, proportions, sequences through the analysis of rhythm, musical form, and melodic contour.
One of the most important musical concepts that helps lay the foundation for future success in mathematics is the concept of musical patterns. Recognizing patterns at the early elementary level helps children understand larger more complicated concepts later on in their education. Because of this, music is often used to help children understand patterns aurally as well as visually. Pattern instruction in younger grades is also key to the idea of "emergent mathematics", which parallels the notion of "emergent literacy".
For more information on the Common Core State Standards, please go to http://www.corestandards.org/ or http://advocacy.nafme.org/common-core-state-standards/ to learn more.