Exploring culture through music at an independent studies high school

Project (M.A., Education (Bilingual/Multicultural Education)) -- California State University, Sacramento, 2009.Music is a means of communication and expression that plays an essential role in the lives of most people in the world and throughout history. In fact, there is no known culture that exists today or any in the past that haven???t used music. The United States is a place where numerous cultures collide and music is an avenue that allows people to maneuver through society and gain meaning of life through multiple perspectives. However, across the country and especially in the northern California region, children lack adequate music education as public schools continue to focus on language arts and math, dismissing music as an extracurricular activity.\ud Independent studies charter schools have grown considerably in recent years and need to prepare today???s students for the demands of living in a multicultural society that is complex and multifaceted (Barrat & Berliner, 2009). Cultural diversity is our nation???s strength and we harness its power by allowing students to explore the struggles of\ud humanity and social justice through the study of music. Multicultural music can be used as a bridge to understand cultures that are different in order to build trust, tolerance and respect in the classroom. Furthermore, exploring the music of one???s culture allows students to relive and celebrate their unique heritage, encouraging pride, self-esteem and self-confidence.\ud The author???s project focuses on the creation and implementation of a University of California/California State University (UC/CSU) approved, multicultural music course at an independent studies high school where she is employed. The project contains a series of music lesson plans that are designed for a weekly, 90-minute music class session. Following the lesson plans are additional independent studies assignments for students to complete at home during the week. It is the intent of this project to raise awareness about the benefits of multicultural music education for all students while providing practical lesson plans to implement inside and outside of the traditional classroom setting. Participating in a multicultural music program offers students more than an awareness of culture and music; it provides authentic voices that speak of the struggles and triumphs of the human race while giving every student a voice that is heard, respected and recognized.Education (Bilingual/Multicultural Education