Developing New Methods for Group Teaching Approaches
In the face of the global pandemic, the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music has shown remarkable adaptability by transforming its music curricula to cater to the new normal of remote instruction. This shift has seen the incorporation of virtual concert formats and the utilisation of digital platforms to make performances accessible to a wider audience.
During the summer, the Department of Music's Chair, Travis J. Cross, organised a two-day virtual symposium. The event brought together School of Music faculty and colleagues from other universities, facilitating the exchange of ideas and providing an opportunity for personal and professional connection during a time of physical distance.
One of the outcomes of this symposium was the development of special topics courses. These innovative offerings have proven successful and have continued since the summer, providing students with opportunities to engage with music and music-related topics beyond traditional ensemble performance. The courses investigate other musical issues and are taught by faculty from various departments, including Ethnomusicology and Global Jazz Studies.
Some of the special topics courses available this spring include "Creating Inclusive Orchestral Audition Lists," "Improvisation for Classical Musicians," "Discovery of World Music: Learning Music from UCLA Ethnomusicology Faculty and Ensemble Directors," and "Historical and Recorded Perspectives: The American Choral Tradition." Other topics include "Social Justice Issues in Classical Music" and "The Entrepreneurial Musician on Social Media."
The conducting faculty collaborated to devise an unconventional, cross-departmental substitution for large ensembles that could not meet on campus: a series of special topics courses. These courses allow students to explore new areas of interest and expand their horizons, providing a unique opportunity for personal and professional growth.
Eileen Strempel, the school's Inaugural Dean, expressed pride in the faculty's efforts to create innovative options for students during the pandemic. The faculty are working to further develop and improve the special topics courses for the spring quarter, demonstrating creative thinking in the face of unforeseen challenges.
Students from all across the School of Music are invited to enrol in the special topics courses. The courses not only cater to the needs of the current situation but also align with a broader academic move towards incorporating sound studies and music technology topics that respond to the digital transformation of music education.
In sum, the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music's innovation during remote instruction has centred on transitioning traditional performance and instructional activities into virtual spaces, thereby expanding accessibility and pedagogical reach. This approach has proven successful and has continued into the current winter quarter, providing a promising outlook for the future of music education in the digital age.
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- The special topics courses developed at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music cater not only to the needs of the current remote learning situation but also reflect a broader academic move towards incorporating education in sound studies and music technology, enhancing lifelong-learning and self-development.
- Beyond traditional modes of music learning, these innovative special topics courses encompass a wide range of subjects such as creating inclusive orchestral audition lists, improvisation for classical musicians, exploration of world music, social justice issues in classical music, and the use of social media for entrepreneurial musicians, offering entertainment and education simultaneously.
