J.A.M.

From Theory to Practice: Elevating curriculum research into classroom application

At its heart, Ollie’s Music World is much greater than a narrative-based and character driven elementary music education concept, it is the result of a previous research project in K-12 curriculum. I asked “Why should songwriting be implemented in early music education classrooms?” among other questions. The outcome was an exploration into a vertically aligned music education system that pivots around songwriting, while still honoring current trends and classical music education necessities. Ollie’s Music World is the foundation of that research brought to life in real-time classroom experience. I discovered my philosophy in education through this process and through certain classes while studying at Penn State, grounded in creativity, student agency, social-emotional development, and constructivist learning. 

Research regularly demonstrates that students learn best when they are active participants, especially from major theorists in educational psychology Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. Creativity-centered music education is highly beneficial for fostering critical thinking, collaboration, and cultural understanding as well as helping students with emotional regulation and identity formation. These skills extend past the music room into other classrooms and into the world with students as they develop into adulthood. My own research, summarized in the accompanying poster presentation, explores how contemporary music education scholarship elevates these principles through songwriting, improvisation, imaginative play, and student-led music exploration. 

Ollies Music World emerged as a practical response to my research as I was engaged heavily in elementary music education settings. One small lesson plan with my Orangutan puppet revolving around a pick-n-pass game and song snowballed into an entire world. A world full of stories and characters for students to explore with guided participation and active construction of their own. It became and immersive learning ecosystem where students demonstrated music development through storytelling, play, composition, and creative decision making. What started as research, emerged as an elementary classroom framework and holds the key to far greater potential. 

The following proposed High School courses are designed as natural extensions of my experience teaching in the context of elementary music. My world experience in modern music, songwriting, and composition is now informed by a foundation in elementary education. I brought those “elementary teacher” skills with me to my High School student teaching placement and reinforced my philosophy. Developmental stages across educational contexts are all rooted in the same individual needs and frames my central belief: music education must empower students to not just perform music, but create it. They must communicate and reflect on their growth and emotions, collaborate with others along the way, and most importantly discover their own unique voices.

These courses are more than individual teaching ideas; they are explorations of a larger educational ecosystem grown from my own performance and education background. They are classes that I would enjoy teaching or imagine my younger-self benefiting from and enjoying when I was in school. Informed by the concept of vertical alignment in music education these classes are a flexible, but natural progression of curriculum extending from the developing Ollie’s Music World. Ollie the puppet may go away as students age, but the alignment of skills in creativity-based music education remain, adapting across grade levels and ultimately contributing to a more empathetic, imaginative, and connected generation of learners. 

*My concepts for electives are just that, concepts. They are a vision of possibilities designed to be mindfully flexible to any currently existing curriculum or school district need. *

Elective Ideas for Secondary General Music

The following three class titles will soon have a viewable course proposal. Each proposal is being finalized before upload to this website. They will have course descriptions, objectives, unit plans, National and PA Arts Standards alignments, and concepts for assignments and performance opportunities within the requirements of the class.

If not yet available for reading, please reach out directly with any questions!

1: Songwriting: Finding Your Voice

2: Music, Media, and Modern Culture

3: The Art of Musical Theater