As a music appreciation teacher, one of your primary goals is to help your music students gain a solid understanding of music theory and develop skills to be able to appreciate a wide variety of music. Having a thorough comprehension of the 8 Elements of Music is vital for young musicians as it provides a framework for analyzing and creating music, allowing them to better appreciate and enjoy the music they listen to, perform and compose.
The 4 main benefits of the Elements of Music in Music Appreciation are:
- The development of strong aural skills
- The improvement of performance skills
- The ability to recognize how the elements of music are used in any piece of music
- The development of skills for use outside of the music appreciation classroom such as critical thinking, teamwork, improvement in memory and comprehension
Read on to find out the significance of a comprehensive understanding of the elements of music for young musicians and the benefits they can gain in subjects outside the music room.
The Development of Aural Skills through Music Appreciation
It should be no surprise that your students will develop their aural skills when they learn about each of the 8 Elements of Music. Aural skills refer to the ability to recognize and identify musical elements by ear, such as pitch, rhythm, timbre, dynamics, and harmony. Strong aural skills are critical for all musicians as they enable them to hear and reproduce musical ideas accurately, improvise, as well as use musical ideas when composing their own music. By teaching your students to recognize and identify how the musical elements are being used in a piece of music by ear, you can help them to gain a deeper understanding of how music works, and become more confident and skilled musicians.
Improvement in Performance Skills through Music Appreciation
Performance skills, no matter what the instrument, comprise of the ability to play or sing music accurately and expressively, including techniques, interpretation, and expression. Strong performance skills are essential for young and developing musicians as they allow them to communicate their musical ideas effectively and emotionally connect with their audience. By teaching your students to use each of the Elements of Music through music appreciation, and to incorporate what they learn into their own performances it will help to develop strong performance skills. By carefully considering and using the elements of music in a performance, you can help your students to become more confident and expressive musicians and develop a deeper appreciation for the power of music.
Recognition of How Music Elements are Used in Music Appreciation Lessons
Recognizing how music elements are used is crucial for gaining a deeper understanding of musical styles and genres in any piece of music you choose to study in your music appreciation class. When you choose music that your students enjoy listening to, the engagement in your music appreciation class will naturally increase. By choosing to focus on any or all of the 8 Elements of music including dynamics, harmony, melody, rhythm, structure, texture, timbre and tonality when listening to a piece of music, your students can learn to be a discerning and critical listener. By teaching your students to recognize how these elements are used in different musical styles and genres, you can help them to develop a deeper appreciation for the diversity and richness of musical expression in all music, and not just to the music they enjoy listening to outside of the music appreciation classroom.
Below are some YouTube tutorials on how to write about music using the Elements of Music as a focus.
The Benefits of Music Appreciation Skills Outside the Music Room
A comprehensive understanding of the elements of music can benefit young musicians in several subjects outside the music room. Research has shown that learning to play an instrument can improve cognitive skills, such as memory, attention, and language processing. It can also help develop social and emotional skills, such as self-discipline, self-expression, and teamwork. By teaching your students to gain a comprehensive understanding of the elements of music, you can help them develop a range of skills that will benefit them in all areas of their lives beyond the music appreciation classroom.
As a music appreciation teacher, you know that having a thorough understanding of the elements of music is crucial for young musicians. This understanding helps in several ways as it provides a framework for:
- critically analyzing and evaluating music
- improvement and strengthening of performance skills
- musical ideas in the music composition process
- helping to develop strong aural analysis skills
- allowing students to recognize and appreciate the diversity and richness of musical expression in a wide variety of music styles and genres
Other ways that having a solid understanding of the elements of music is that it can benefit students in subjects outside the music appreciation classroom, by improving cognitive, social, and emotional skills. As a music appreciation teacher, prioritizing the development of a strong foundation in music theory and musicianship skills through the elements of music, will help your students to appreciate the power and beauty of music beyond the music appreciation classroom.
If you would like a Free copy of the Elements of Music Mind Maps that you can use in your music appreciation lessons, click here to get your copy
Until next time
Happy Teaching
Julia form Jooya