Family Involvement in Childrens’ Music Learning

Teachers Network Leadership Institute is “a nationwide, non-profit education organization that identifies and connects innovative teachers exemplifying professionalism and creativity within public school systems.”

Recently, Rebecca Ponka, who taught in District 15 in Brooklyn, completed an action research project entitled Connecting Generations in Music Education that’s available on the TN website.

Her aim was to study the effect of parental involvement on children’s music learning. The short summary is interesting in itself, and a complete text of her report is available as a PDF file.

Ponka’s paper is a vivid example of a research done by a teacher working fulltime in a public elementary school. She includes some sensible recommendations, such as the value of providing families with examples and suggestions on how to actively support their child’s music education at home.

Carnegie Hall and Juilliard’s program for music in city public schools

Just recently, the New York Times reported on an ambitious new collaboration by Carnegie Hall and the Juilliard School of Music intended to cultivate musicians with a wider view of the world, who will populate professional orchestras and help turn them into cultural forces in their cities.

At the same time, it’s meant to support music education at public schools throughout New York City. According the Times, young musicians will be selected to receive high-level musical training, performance opportunities at Carnegie Hall and guidance from city school teachers in how to teach music. The “fellows” will each be assigned to a different school and work there one and a half days a week, where they’ll teach their instruments, or music in general, and give their own pointers to school music teachers.

In the article, Clive Gillinson, executive and artistic director at Carnegie Hall, and Joseph W. Polisi, Juilliard’s president, describe the program largely in terms of its impact on the classically-trained musicians that will participate. The Department of Education is contributing almost $200,000 to the first phase of the operation, which lasts from January through June. “The Department of Education is effectively buying services,” Mr. Polisi said. The total yearly budget is expected to reach $5 million.

Click here Juilliard Carnegie Hall Program to download a copy of the whole article.