Music Education Articles

The transformative power of music education, especially on developing minds, has been a key area of research for decades. And, despite the long history of music education research, new discoveries continue to be made about how learning music affects our minds. One longitudinal study, published in March 2018, linked several… Read more >

If you think back to the educational TV shows you watched as a kid, one aspect that probably stands out is the songs. There are good reasons why people remember “Yakko’s World” from “Animaniacs,” “There’s Science in Music” from “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” or “I’m Just a Bill” from… Read more >

Learning to play an instrument or sing is a priceless experience, but high-quality instruction does come with costs. Cuts to music education funding leave departments operating with tight budgets and make it harder for students to get involved. However, teachers can play a vital role in obtaining funding for music… Read more >

The following article was written by Drew X Coles, the Director of the Hybrid Music and Music Education program. He is also a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, producer, serial entrepreneur, and educator. Drew’s scholarly interests include the construct of success as it applies to post-secondary music students, culturally responsive pedagogy in… Read more >

The following article was written by Drew X Coles, the director of the Hybrid Summer Master of Arts in Music and Music Education (M.A. M&ME) program at Teachers College, Columbia University. He is also a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, producer, serial entrepreneur, and educator. Drew’s scholarly interests include the construct of… Read more >

As the world shifts rapidly towards becoming more inclusive and advanced, today’s educators should consider how to celebrate diversity and utilize increasingly innovative technology in their teaching practices. In addition to technological challenges, equity and racial justice rose to prominence in the zeitgeist of 2020, calling for us to rethink… Read more >

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the face of education for all disciplines, but it has presented unique challenges for music teachers. In addition to dealing with increased stress, we have had to navigate unique logistical challenges, like figuring out how to teach, rehearse and perform in a virtual environment. Faculty… Read more >

The most effective educators are informed practitioners who learn from their students, stay up to date with relevant issues, and continue to expand their knowledge. That’s a conclusion supported by studies in which students were more successful in achieving district benchmarks when their teachers participated in professional development activities. For… Read more >

For years, Teachers College, Columbia University has been mastering the art of teaching music online. Although we designed the hybrid Master of Arts in Music and Music Education program to achieve the best of both online and in-person learning, we transitioned to a fully online program for 2020 as a… Read more >

She sat on the stage, in front of the building’s Renaissance Revival style auditorium. Grandeur, red seats—she probably leaned the large, low-pitched instrument close to her, sloping her shoulders as she turned inward toward the double bass. It’s a stance all too familiar for bassist, educator and Music and Music… Read more >