I play instrumental music in all my classes, right from the start of each
term. The music ranges from culture to culture. At first I get some
reaction and "Can't we listen to the radio?" comments, but those don't
continue once we're into the second week. What I do, though, is tell the
students that on Friday's we can listen to the radio (reception is very poor
in my room so we can only get a local, very "tame" station)or to a CD
they've brought in. But, if it's a CD they want to bring in, they must
bring it in on Thursday so I can review it first. I learned that lesson
years ago when a student brought in a controversial CD with inappropriate
words, etc... This works for me and the kids feel it's fair.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Woody Duncan" <woodyduncan@comcast.net>
To: "TeacherArtExchange Discussion Group"
<teacherartexchange@lists.pub.getty.edu>
Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2006 10:11 AM
Subject: Re: [teacherartexchange] Art/Music Connection
>I often played background music in my middle school art room.
> I tried to fit the music to the lesson. When the theme was
> Jazz Musicians, I played jazz. I did a lesson around Van Gogh's
> Starry Night and of course played Don McLean's Starry Night.
> If we were working on Rock Art or drawing from Kachina Dolls
> I put on Carlos Nakai's flute music. At first students complained
> about my constant Jazz Music (instrumental only) but they got
> use to it. In fact we had a very mellow classroom with the
> Jazz playing. I had several teachers stop in and say they wished
> they could just stay. I found a very good fit between the
> soft instrumental Jazz and drawing from observation. Music
> is a right brain activity (sans lyrics). If you are not
> familiar with Carlos Nakai, I suggest his CD "Inner Voices".
> It has a beautiful version of "Amazing Grace" on it.
> Music is a beautiful fit with painting. I play music myself
> when I'm working on my watercolors. If you are into New
> Mexico landscapes I suggest a CD by Michael Hearne. He's
> a regional musician who is popular around Taos. This CD is
> a collection of songs inspired by Art in Northern New Mexico.
> Woody
>
>
> --
> Woody, Retired in Albuquerque
> mailto:woodyduncan@comcast.net
>
> 35 Quality Middle School Art Lessons
> in powerpoint format, on one CD $17 (includes shipping)
> http://www.taospaint.com/QualityLessons.html > Ordering Address: PO Box 91703
> Albuquerque, NM 87199-1703
>
> ?The function of the overwhelming majority of your artwork
> is simply to teach you how to make the small fraction
> of your artwork that soars.? from: ?Art & Fear?
>
> Woody's Watercolor Portfolio:
> http://www.taospaint.com/Portfolio/Watercolors.html > Newest Fantastic Triplet Pics:
> http://www.taospaint.com/Kansas05/Christmas.html > My newest watercolors:
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