Book Description

For music theory teachers, some common questions might arise: why assess students with exams like AP Music Theory? Why teach them melodic dictation, formal structures, and key signatures? Why design curriculums this way? In recent years, educators around the country have developed new and innovative teaching approaches to address these questions, reintroducing a sense of purpose into their classrooms. In this new volume, Jennifer Snodgrass visits several of these teachers, observing them in their music theory classrooms and providing lesson plans that build upon their approaches. Based on three years of field study spanning seventeen states, coupled with reflections from the author on her own teaching strategies, Teaching Music Theory: New Voices and Approaches highlights real-life teaching approaches from effective (and sometimes award-winning) instructors from a wide range of institutions: high schools, community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and conservatories. Throughout the book, Snodgrass focuses on topics like classroom environment, collaborative learning, undergraduate research and professional development, and curriculum reform. She also emphasizes the importance of a diverse, progressive, and inclusive teaching environment throughout, from encouraging student involvement in curriculum planning to designing lesson plans with Common Core Standards in mind so that pedagogical concepts may be applied to other subjects. An accessible and valuable text designed with the needs of both students and faculty in mind, Teaching Music Theory provides teachers with a vital set of tools to rejuvenate the classroom and produce confident, empowered students.