What is Critical Pedagogy?
Critical Pedagogy for Music Teaching and Learning is a teaching model that views teaching and learning as a conversation among teachers and their students. It advocates a shift in the power structure by acknowledging that students come to the music class, rehearsal or private lesson with information gleaned from their own life experiences. The goal of critical pedagogy is to use that knowledge as a bridge to new learning. This results in a change of perception for both the students and their teachers. Critical pedagogues claim that when students and their teachers “know that they know,” the phenomenon of “conscientization” has occurred. When that happens learning has occurred.

Paulo Freire developed Critical Pedagogy in Brazil in the 1960’s to teach illiterate adults to read Portuguese. Freire advocated interactive teaching through dialogue. Acknowledging that children come to formal music learning experiences with some prior knowledge gleaned from life experiences is an important stance. Applying this pedagogy ensures that those musical learnings, no matter how limited, are meaningful and long-lasting.

What is online learning in the Westminster Center for Critical Pedagogy?
The online format provides opportunities for live synchronous classes using video conferencing software, with everyone online together and asynchronous classes where everyone is working independently at their own pace and in their own time. Using SKYPE or iCHAT video formats, participants will have access to the instructor and to their classmates and will be able to interact through group projects. When appropriate, it enables the instructor to "visit" each classroom, ensemble rehearsal or private voice lesson to provide ongoing feedback to each participant as appropriate. When SKYPE visits are not possible, participants will submit teaching vignettes recorded on a disc. A webcam and mic are required for these courses. If these are not already built into the computer, participants must purchase them additionally. Participants will find a laptop most appropriate for these courses and may use a MAC or PC platform. Course materials will be available online for purchase at Westminster Music and Books. Course sizes are limited to ensure that each participant receives a personal attention.

Certificate completion requirements and course descriptions.

Creative Practices in Elementary Music Education
Phillip Greco
October 1 – November 23, 2012
3 Graduate Credits
Tuition: $600 (non-credit); $1800 for 3 graduate credits

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This course offers a constructivist/connectionist perspective to general music grades K-8. It supports the tenets of Critical Pedagogy for Music Education by advocating musical experiences for children that connect the music they listen to and enjoy outside of school with school music curricula. Such experiences yield a change of perception for children and add value to their lives. Participants will examine and practice teaching strategies that engage and empower children to be musicians. Topics include lesson planning, music literacy, and differentiated instruction using reciprocal teaching.

Westminster Office of Continuing Education
609-924-7416

Creative Practices in Teaching and Learning with Ideas from Critical Pedagogy
Frank Abrahams
January 28-March 22, 2013
3 Graduate Credits
Tuition: $600 (non-credit); $1800 for 3 graduate credits

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This course, designed for classroom music teachers, conductors and private studio teachers, presents the fundamental concepts, contexts and constructs that define Critical Pedagogy for Music Education. It includes the application of philosophy and learning theory as well as opportunities for those enrolled to develop lessons and ensemble rehearsals for their own students. For music teaching and learning, a critical pedagogy approach seeks to break down the barriers that exist between the musical lives of students outside the classroom, rehearsal and studio, with the music their teachers want them to learn and perform. The teaching model suggests that when teachers connect music to the student’s own world, the teaching and learning experience becomes empowering and offers plentiful opportunities for meaningful musical experiences.

Creative Practices in Voice Pedagogy
Scott McCoy
April 1-May 24, 2013
3 Graduate Credits
Tuition: $600 (non-credit); $1800 for 3 graduate credits

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This online course explores the core knowledge that all competent teachers of singing must possess, It concerns anatomical and acoustical aspects of singing/phonation, and how to apply this information to enhance the individual instruction that occurs in the singing studio. It pays special attention to the application of real-time spectrum analysis as a feedback tool in the teaching of singing. Dr. McCoy draws on his multimedia textbook, Your Voice: An Inside View, which is already among the most widely used resources in voice pedagogy and voice science classes taught throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Creative Practices in Choral Pedagogy: Building Vocal Technique and Aural Skills into your Choir
James Jordan
July 1-August 23, 2013
3 Graduate Credits
Tuition: $600 (non-credit); $1800 for 3 graduate credits

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Since 1978, some form of this course has been offered at Westminster during summer sessions and the academic year.  For the third summer, this renowned course is offered online.  Based upon the teaching of Frauke Haasemann and Group Vocal Technique, participants in this class will gain a deep and through knowledge of the pedagogy for teaching vocal technique AND aural skills to a choir.  Through reading, DVD demonstrations online, class discussion, participants will gain a broad knowledge of choral/vocal pedagogy as it can be applied to choirs at any level of development!  Additionally, participants will gain a basic knowledge of conducting gesture that is supportive of the vocal process.

Assignments can be completed at the pace and schedule of the student. Three online discussions are held with James Jordan on specific topics.  Dr. Jordan feels that the online format is a highly efficient way of acquiring this material that has enriched thousands of choral conductors over the years.

Texts:

Jordan, James.  The Choral Rehearsal, Vol 1: Techniques and Procedures Chicago: GIA, 2007.  ISBN: 978-57999-673-4

Other excerpts from other texts by Dr Jordan are provided for the students enrolled in the course.