The schoolhouse dance in the Alberta grade four music program: an action research project

• Author / Creator

  Stark, David Stanley

• This action research project seeks to explore the question, “how can the community dances of Alberta’s past become a context for learning in the Alberta grade four music program?” This question gives the researcher an opportunity to explore several things, one of which is David Elliott’s idea of music education as praxis, which is explored through teaching a unit of instruction “praxially,” and having it culminate in a cultural/ musical event, a historical community “schoolhouse dance” simulation. Because the research method for this project is action research, the researcher is able to interrogate his practice as a music teacher. Finally, at a time of planned change to Alberta’s fine arts curriculum, this study contributes to the discussion about what the nature of arts education in Alberta can - and should - be by exploring the areas of: community involvement; student engagement; and the integration of other subject areas within music learning.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Dance
  • Music
  • Praxial
  • Education
  • Kodály
  • Action

• Graduation date

  Spring 2011

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Arts

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3PD4Q

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.