My podcast, more often on a break than broadcasting every week, but the archive is hopefully still very engaging. I deal in issues affecting music in contemporary education, and advocate for a more pluralist and inclusive classroom music education.
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MusicZettel S3E15 – Finding Our Voice
In this, the final episode of the season, I reflect on some of the (eight!) resources that the amazing Jess Lee, Lillian Li, Vicky Zhang made (with me getting in the way here and there) for Genevieve Lacey’s wonderful Finding Our Voice project which commissioned 8 new works from Australian artists including William Barton, Linda May Han Oh, Lisa Illean, Madeleine Flynn, Jenny Hector, Tim Humphrey, Mark Atkins, Erkki Veltheim, Matthias Schack-Arnott, Lior, Nigel Westlake, Lou Bennett, and Sunny Kim. Here is an AI-made transcript of the episode:
Keep readingMusicZettel S3E14 – Everything’s a project
This week I’m thinking about the project that I’ll create for our undergraduates and postgraduates at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music to learn about Project Based Learning (and similar pedagogies) with and through. In this episode, I share some of the previous projects with you, and talk about what Project Based Learning (PBL) is, and how when we do music education well, everything’s a project! Comments are still broken on my blog, so please just send me a message in any format with your thoughts! Here’s an AI-generated transcript:
Keep readingMusicZettel S3E13 – Explicit Teaching in Music Education
Explicit Teaching (not dissimilar to Direct Instruction) is really in vogue with our local government at the moment, and this coming week all government school teachers have to undertake professional development in it. Of course, there’s a research base behind the use of Explicit Teaching, but does much of that research come from music education? And if it doesn’t, what should music teachers make of Explicit Teaching and similar ideas? Are they useful for music education, or will they get in the way of best practice? In this episode, I speak to music teacher and research Dr Brad Fuller, who…
Keep readingMusicZettel S3E12 – AI and teaching music creation
I know, everyone is writing and podcasting about AI at the moment – YAWN! But the AI generation of music (audio) has just taken another huge leap forward, and in this podcast I wonder what it means for the teaching and learning of music creation – composition, songwriting, producing, and so on. Can students just get AI to do their work for them? Should we be encouraging it or banning it? And if the really good technologies make audio, not MIDI, how easy is it to create a score for that audio (in school systems where a score is still…
Keep readingMusicZettel S3E11 Public blogging, Critical Thinking, & the Worldviews of Music Teachers
Today’s show is sponsored by Abble and their new product the iSlave Mini, as well as by FcDonald’s. Please check out these unreliable products! In this episode I’m reflecting on the list of pre-service music teachers’ blogs that I published via my blog yesterday, and the courses to which each relates. I make links to the brilliant Electronic Music School by Will Kuhn and Ethan Hein, and also to the DAYTiME music conference coming up in Adelaide and streamed online on June 14th this year. I explain why public blogging is useful as a tool to encourage critical thinking, not…
Keep readingMusicZettel S3E10 – Teaching music creation in Australia
Having had a grumble about the lack of an evidence-base in the local government’s supposedly “Evidence-based syllabus” in the last episode, I turn this into a positive, with the first of several podcasts accounting for my own research in music education, as well as others’. In this episode, specifically, my chapter on teaching music creation in Australia which is part of a relatively new book “The Routledge Companion to Teaching Music in Schools”. I would really LOVE it if you’d add comments on the corresponding blog post for this episode… https://humberstone.org/2024/04/04/musiczettel-s3e10-teaching-music-creation-in-australia/ Here is an AI-generated transcript (so it may have…
Keep readingMusicZettel S3E9: The new NSW Syllabus pt. 2 – When ideology gets in the way of educative evidence-based practice
Following on from the last episode of MusicZettel, in which I focused on the positive things about the new NSW Syllabus, in this episode, I look at the things that the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) got wrong, especially given that they’re claiming this is an “Evidence-Based Syllabus”. I hope that this critical look at the syllabus is useful for listeners in other states and countries also being affected by syllabus/curriculum reform. NB This podcast was removed for a day following my website upgrade yesterday – there was no government conspiracy! I would love to know what you…
Keep readingMusic Zettel S3E8: The new NSW Syllabus pt. 1 – What is classroom music education for?
I’m asking the big questions today, prompted by the new year 7 to 10 (12 to 16 years) music syllabus released recently by the NSW Government: what is classroom music education for? What are the aims of this syllabus, and can we remember the good to avoid the not-so-good? Today I’m focusing (mostly) on what’s good in this new syllabus, and using that to advocate for the same aims in Music Education. I also mention an article that I wrote recently for AARE (The Australian Association for Research in Education) responding to the new syllabus, and you can read that…
Keep readingMusic Zettel S3E7: Teaching music through sampling
In today’s episode I talk about ways I’ve used samping in my own composition and production, and ways that I’ve used it to teach composition and engage children in my music classes. There are lots of ideas, and examples of music that I’ve written. My page of resources on teaching sampling with the Flip Sampler app is available here. If you have any comments, I’d love you to leave them on my blog, where I publish this podcast series. https://humberstone.org/2024/03/08/music-zettel-s3e7-teaching-music-through-sampling/ Here is an Otter.ai transcription of this episode:
Keep readingMusic Zettel S3E6 – The Maker Movement (pt 2) with Mr Phil
This episode of Music Zettel extends ideas about The Maker Movement for Music Education with a recording of my (lockdown) conversation with expert maker-teacher, Phil Nanlohy. Big thanks to Phil for recording this conversation for my students during lockdown, and also for giving me permission to include it in Music Zettel, even if that did take me a few years! I would really love to hear from you with any feedback about this season of Music Zettel. You can simply add a comment here: https://humberstone.org/2024/02/27/music-zettel-s3e6-the-maker-movement-pt-2-with-mr-phil/ Here’s an AI-made transcript of the chat:
Keep readingMusic Zettel S3E5 The maker movement with Caitlin & Rowena
In this episode of Music Zettel I revisit the topic of the Maker Movement in music education – something that I’ve discussed in prior seasons. I also bring something back from those prior seasons – interviews with teachers! Caitlin Sandiford is a brilliant music teacher who plays in ensemble QuartEd, is a composer and music producer, and is doing a research masters at the Sydney Con. At the time of the interview, Rowena Stewart was a programmer by day, and volunteer teacher with the Girls Programming Network by night/weekend/school holiday. They both bring wonderful perspectives to this topic. Please comment…
Keep readingMusic Zettel S3E4: Structuring poetry, structuring music
In this episode, I show how setting a poem to music can be guided by the structure of the words, using an example from my latest music theatre work, Agapi and other kinds of love, created with poet and rapper Luka Lesson. I then explain how these students can use this approach as models for their own compositions and music productions, through free education resources I’ve shared. Music is by me, James Humberstone, and Luka Lesson. All text in and concepts for Agapi are by Luka Lesson and remain his copyright. You can access the learning resources I’ve made to…
Keep readingMusic Zettel S3E3: The sound worlds of Agapi
In this episode, I introduce the sound worlds that I created to reflect the narrative in my latest music theatre work, Agapi and other kinds of love, created with poet and rapper Luka Lesson. I then explain how these sound worlds can be used as models for student compositions and music productions, through free education resources I’ve shared. Music is by me, James Humberstone, and Luka Lesson. All text in and concepts for Agapi are by Luka Lesson and remain his copyright. You can access the learning resources I’ve made to go with the show here: https://humberstone.craft.me/AgapiRiverside You can buy tickets…
Keep readingMusic Zettel S3E2: Rapping about history
In this episode, I explain how to teach composition and production with free resources that I’ve made to go with my new show, Agapi and other kinds of love. These first set of resources are aimed at mandatory classes for middle or junnior secondary classes and use the title track, Agapi, as a model. Students make their own song based on this one. Music is by me, James Humberstone, and Luka Lesson. All text in and concepts for Agapi are by Luka Lesson and remain his copyright. You can access the learning resources I’ve made to go with the show…
Keep readingMusic Zettel S3E1: The story of Agapi
In this episode, I explain the story behind my latest music theatre show, Αγάπη (Agapi) and other kinds of love, which is touring around Australia and the world in 2024. Music is by me, James Humberstone, and Luka Lesson. All text in and concepts for Agapi are by Luka Lesson and remain his copyright. You can access the learning resources I’ve made to go with the show here: https://humberstone.craft.me/AgapiRiverside You can buy tickets for the show, or a copy of the book here: https://www.lukalesson.com/ Please leave comments on the show on this podcast page on my blog: https://humberstone.org/?p=16664 Here is a…
Keep readingMusic Zettel S2E5 – Thongaphone!
Well, five episodes in five days, and today’s episode coincides with our public presentation of learning, which you can still sign up for if you’re very quick: https://bit.ly/InventIdeas. In this episode, I look at the 5th elective stream – new pedagogies and technologies – including projects to build new social media, to build instrumental ensembles, remixing, and much more. You can see all of the project websites by following links at https://bit.ly/SCMTME2020. Music in this episode was created by Lucy Devine and Larisa Neuhoff on instruments that they built!
Keep readingMusic Zettel S2E4 – Oh no, virtual choirs.
In this episode of Music Zettel, I look at the theme of Virtual ensembles, multi-screen mixes, and animation in recent work by my students following my Technology in Music Education course. I’m sure you’ve all been wowed by virtual choirs, orchestras, and other ensembles of people “performing together, apart” over the lockdowns due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In the projects I talk about today, my students have developed the skills to make these kinds of recordings and videos, and will share their insights into the process as well as how they think it might be useful for music education in…
Keep readingMusic Zettel S2E3 – Songwriting, composing, & creativity
In the third Zettel of the week, I take you through a number of songwriting, composition, and other zany creative projects that our pre-service music teachers have produced in response to my Tech in Music Education course. Music included in this episode is by Kyra McMorrow, Matt O’Brien, Katrina Wu, and Emily Turner. If you’re looking for more ideas for songwriting projects for your classes (or to learn in your own time), all four of these participants have generously shared their work and their process at their blogs, which you can access at https://bit.ly/SCMTME2020. And if you’re free this Friday…
Keep readingMusic Zettel S2E2 – Free Resources FTW
In the second episode of this micro-season of Music Zettel, I’m looking at projects undertaken in the stream of digital resources for teaching, learning, and music making, and the related content from my Unit of Study “Technology in Music Education” at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. We’ll look at a number of digital resources that you can actually download and start using in your own teaching today, generously shared by our pre-service music education candidates. Links to all of the students’ work and reflections on the course can be found at: https://bit.ly/SCMTME2020. And if you’d like to register (it’s free)…
Keep readingMusicZettel S2E1 – The Elephant in the Room
Here I am, back with a second micro-season of MusicZettel, after abandoning the first one just when it was getting good (or was it?). Anyway, in this episode I’m going to tell you what the plan is for this short season, and for the future, as well as about a fabulous event coming Friday! If you’d like to pick up your free registration for An Evening of Inventions and Ideas, go here: https://bit.ly/InventIdeas. And if you’d like to check out ALL of the Elective Stream contents before you sign up, I’ve made a programme! https://bit.ly/SCMMTMEProg If you have questions or…
Keep readingMusic Zettel Ep. 8 – A load of Pollak
We’ve just had three wonderful days with our Maker-in-Residence, Linsey Pollak! In this episode, I reflect on the learning that went on, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Good, and we hear from my students who were involved in the residency at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. If you’d like to hear more music from Linsey and the other musicians/projects I mentioned in this week’s episode, please check out: Linsey’s website Linsey’s YouTube channel Jon Madin Mal Webb Odysseus
Keep readingMusic Zettel Ep. 7 – Teaching like a musician
In this week’s podcast, I interview Brad Fuller, director of music at Northern Beaches Christian School, about his pedagogical approach to teaching the class that I described in Episode 6, where our undergraduate pre-service Music Teachers wrestle with jamming with chord-playing instruments that are totally new to them and the philosophy of the Creative Music Movement, all at once! References:The Place of Music in 21st Century Education, my free 5-week online course https://www.coursera.org/learn/music-educationA video (from the above course) of Brad showing his classroom spaces https://vimeo.com/220881784
Keep readingMusic Zettel Ep. 6 – The Creative Music Movement
This episode features a “flipped learning” video that I made for Key Approaches in Music Education at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the first year course that I mentioned in episode 2. For those wondering what “flipped learning” means, it’s when you take a part of a class that you’ve traditionally chalked-and-talked, and “flip” it so that it comes before the class, often in the format of a video to watch in the same way we sometimes set readings before classes. In past iterations of the course, while students told us they enjoyed the content, they felt it was too…
Keep readingMusic Zettel Ep. 5 – Tech skills & industry collaboration
This week we are giving away dozens of free resources for music education and technology! I’ll be reflecting on the first 5 weeks of my Sydney Conservatorium course “Technology in Music Education”, which culminated in a media creation session with brilliant pianist Lolita Emmanuel in which the students were the film and sound crew. I mention lots of resources and websites in this episode, so here they all are for your delectation: My free online course (MOOC):https://www.coursera.org/learn/music-education My recent blog sharing all of the #SCMTME projects: http://bit.ly/SCMTME2019 Pianist Lolita Emmanuel: https://sydney.academia.edu/LolitaEmmanuel DAYTiME conferences 2020: www.musicednet.com/daytime KASM YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/KASMyoutube Sugata Mitra’s TED talk Kids can…
Keep readingMusic Zettel Ep. 4 – Music Education & Social Justice
I’ve been to Alice Springs to work on a new project, Ilyawe, and in this episode I introduce the project in the context of social justice in Music Education. You can find out much more about the project at its website, www.ilyaweproject.com. There is a longer version of this podcast at https://humberstone.org/?p=1219 with more background about the plight of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians – this version is child-friendly. The Hip-Hop song in this episode is not from Ilyawe (the music for this new project is just being written!), but from another youth Hip-Hop project I’ve been working on since 2016, Odysseus :…
Keep readingMusic Zettel Ep. 3 – Orff formula arrangements
This week’s episode is drawn from my first two lectures this semester in Composition in Music Education. We look at some of my own Orff-style arrangements and original compositions and discuss how these can be both a pedagogical and compositional model for teaching and learning. The resources I mentioned in this episode include: My Train’s Off the Track arrangement (PDF) A printable straight train track (PDF) A printable curved train track (PDF) My original composition 6834 (PDF) My arrangement of a teeny bit of Daniel Rojas’ Hard Boiled Overture (PDF) My arrangement of the keyboard hook from Prince’s When Doves…
Keep readingMusic Zettel Ep. 2 – Skills every music teacher needs
What are the musical skills that every classroom music teacher needs? I’ve been lucky enough to rewrite our first year #MusicEd courses this year, and I’ve focused first on the ability to teach a melody through imitation & chunking (musical definition coming up!); and in addition, this semester, on the ability to accompany songs on chord-playing instruments. Tell me what you think a music teacher’s essential skills are in the comments for this podcast, at the bottom of this page. Links related to/mentioned in this episode: My Riptide sheet for all chord-playing instruments. Jeff Robin’s brilliant animations on what PBL…
Keep readingMusic Zettel Ep 1 – Introduction
The first podcast in my first ever series – Music Zettel – in which I’ll share ideas and resources from my lecture series this semester at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, in addition to content related to my free MOOC (online short course), The Place of Music in 21st Century Education.
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