There is not much on the internet about Project-Based Learning (PBL) in orchestra and band, probably because our concerts and the preparation leading up to them are essentially PBL. Here are some resources that could help refine and enhance our concert projects.
PBL in a Music Programme
I allow students in my most advanced group to form chamber ensembles, choose the music they’d like to perform, and rehearse the music in preparation for the concert. I always wonder if I should choose the music for the students or if I should let them choose it themselves, and then remember that a major aspect of PBL is student-choice, as they gain more ownership of their learning. The international aspect could receive more emphasis with students elaborating on the historical-cultural context within which the composers are/were working.
PBL in Music: Driving Questions Invoke Deeper Musical Learning
Good ideas for fostering students ownership and engagement, including the connection with another school. I have done this many times, but it’s always a challenge to find groups that are willing, as well as finding a suitable time, especially when you’re in Hawai‘i. I love the question “How does music move you?” and its connection to a performance at a care home.
Music History Lessons for Women’s History Month
While this article does not provide a specific PBL unit, it reminds us about an often missed aspect: “Many times in music and the arts, the ‘genius’ work of an individual downplays the cultural and historical context that is passed on from one performer to another.” The article goes on to mention the influence of Nadia Boulanger and Sister Rosetta Tharpe on bigger name male musicians.
Integrating Music and Song into PBL
My students are responsible for creating a theme around our concert, which is reflected in their program design, spoken commentary, and stage decorations at the concert. One Winter Concert was entitled “Elf’s Playlist,” and superbly done. The Edutopia article mentions a Civil Rights Playlist project in which students engage in historical research, find connections between the events of the time with modern-day songs of their choice, and create a slide presentation, culminating in their own playlist design covers. While I have not done any projects around the playlist idea, this article got me thinking about having students create playlists of music popular in the time of the pieces they are working on. They could also research what events were happening at the time to develop connections to history. Aside from the playlist idea, this article provides nice descriptions of why music belongs in learning.
Uyehara in Uruguay 