Pop Goes the Weasel: Music Pedagogy in Education, The Capabilities of Music Integration in Schooling

Presenter: B. Francis Andersen

Faculty Sponsor: Adam S. Grabell

School: UMass Amherst

Research Area: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

Session: Poster Session 6, 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM, Concourse, B13

ABSTRACT

Music is used in storytelling practices around the world, and instrumental music is ubiquitous across cultures. Music psychologists aim to understand the connections between music and the human psyche. This includes studying how music influences our interactions and behaviors. Music therapy is a common source of field research, and many current investigations take place in a hospital or lab setting. These studies have shown immense potential for music's capacity to regulate emotions in high-stress environments. For the last thirty-five years, educational research has shown a general decline in school engagement (SE), a dimensional construct of student behavior, emotion, and cognition. In parallel, the importance of standardized tests has risen drastically since the mid-1900s, which we propose has impacted student morale and stress levels. This research aims to understand how music can be used in classroom settings to influence student attitudes toward schooling and academic achievement. We will review and discuss our knowledge of music education's influences on development and how certain practices can be extended to general education. We will also discuss the implications for curriculum and pedagogy with an example of a music-enriched curriculum that we developed. Future directions for researchers and teachers interested in the topic are also provided.

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