Sigma Alpha Iota

MUSIC MEDLEY Teaching Rock and Roll History to Music Students By Stephanie Riley SAI Music Education Committee Calling All Music Educators and Music Therapists! S o, you've found yourself with a high school general music class and you're terribly bored with teaching the typical "Music In Our Lives" outline? Well, why not give your students a chance to truly experience "Music In Our Lives" and teach them about the History of Rock and Roll instead? The History of Rock and Roll is American History right down to the core with the obligatory infusions of the British Invasion and the roots of the Blues to Africa. It can cover many musical genres including Rhythm and Blues, Soul, Disco, Punk, Funk, and Hip Hop. It's a great opportunity to open your class's eyes to artists such as Al Green and Carl Perkins, bands such as Nirvana, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, and music producing powerhouses such as Motown and the Chess Brothers. First, you must decide if the History of Rock and Roll will be a series of units in your existing high school general music class, or, in my particular case, a class all on its own. My course has grown so popular, and the curriculum that I wish to include is so hard to squeeze into one semester, I've been given the green light to start the History of Rock and Roll Part II and The Beatles in the fall of 2013. It's amazing the list of topics you can include on just over 60 years of popular music history! If you decide on a full class, I must disclose that this class will include mature content due to the lyrics and subject area contained within many Rock and Roll songs. It may be wise to limit your class participants to just your junior and senior classes depending on the maturity of your school. There is a reason they use the saying "sex, drugs, and rock and roll!" Now, it's very clear that this course can easily echo and parallel American History right from the very beginning. Don't hesitate to ask your American History teachers to guest speak and even co-teach. Sit down with your American History teacher and look together at how you can plan out your semester. Co-teaching of sorts for a few weeks, if the planning schedules parallel each other, is a great way to present the material. Your history teacher can cover the A The 5-disc History of Rock and Roll documentary series can supplement classroom materials. topics such as the Vietnam War, Civil Rights, and the political climate in detail, while you cover the music and how music was influenced by that decade. It is very easy for you both to weave together the music, lyrics, trends, and inspiration in your lectures and materials presented to each class to the point it will never feel like you are lecturing.You will feel as though you are having a conversation with your students. Within the historical context that is to be covered in the History of Rock and Roll, there are many music theory topics that can be covered as well. For example, when teaching your classes about the influence that the blues had on early Rock and Roll, you can teach them how to play the 12 bar blues pattern on either keyboards or guitars. If you do not have access to either keyboards or guitars, you can have the students solfege a basic bass pattern (which in turn would give a more functional definition of how the 12 bar blues works). Along with the bass pattern, you can teach your students basic improvisation and how to create blues compositions. If you wanted to take it a step further and bring this element into the twenty-first century, take advantage of the fact that many students have iPods, iPhones, etc. and have them create what is called an "iBand" and do the same thing. This would give students who aren't necessarily thrilled about singing, or have a hard time playing an instrument, a chance to contribute in a fun way. If access to those devices is difficult, re you a new teacher (or a soon-tobe-graduate) and need some advice, suggestions, resources, lesson plans, etc.? Or are you an experienced teacher willing to help another sister in our profession? Then join Sigma Alpha Iota's mentorship program called "MEM" (Music Education MUSE)! Fill out an application form and email it to Mandy Maldonado, Director of Music Education at musiced@sai-national.org. Application forms can be found on the SAI National website under "Resources" then "Music Education" These forms have been . recently updated to better match sisters and their needs. If you signed up at the SAI 2012 Convention in Atlanta, but have not received the application and further information, please contact Mandy Maldonado at the above email address as some email addresses have been returned as undeliverable. We would love to have your participation in this program! In addition, Music Therapists have been included at the request of sisters in attendance at the Convention. Interested therapists should fill out and email the same application as educators. Please include any additional information you feel is pertinent to better match you with another sister. We hope you will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. Music Education Director Amanda (Mandy) Maldonado has Bachelor's Degrees in Music Education and Music from Lebanon Valley College in PA, as well as a Master's in Music Education from Kansas State University.  She has experience teaching General Music (MS and HS), HS Band (Marching, Concert, and Jazz Bands) as well as Choral (6-8).  She is a charter member of the Northern Delaware Alumnae and has been on several panels for SAI National Convention workshops. HISTORY continued on page 4 sai-national.org winter 13 PP.indd 3 WINTER 2013 PAN PIPES 3 2/12/2013 2:14:43 PM

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