“Academic Music: Engaging students in math, music, and computational thinking” was the title of a CAST UDL session that consisted of multiple videos and presenters: Timothy Bellavia, Susan Courey, Roslyn Haber, Tina Williams, Samantha Wright, & Santa-Li Zimbrano. In the first video, Susan Courey, shared data on the disparities of STEM education in rural and urban areas. Courey talked about how music can be part of STEM education through YAM: Young Academic Music. Roslyn Haber explained how teachers completing training can use music and UDL. The Touro College of Education, U .Texas Austin, SRI, and Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz are partners. This kindergarten curriculum sounds really fun!
The second video was an introduction to YAM. Two instructors explained how to use the Google Slide deck interactively. Each module was briefly introduced. There were several music questions in the first couple of modules. Module 2 is on music theory. The entire course/professional development series is built with Google Classroom and Nearpod! Links to Google slides with embedded videos, notes, examples, and questions were shared. Module 3 introduces steady beat and rhythm through a Nearpod activity and assessment. One assessment they shared was creating a video with clapping or tapping to practice “half note” and “quarter note.” Timothy Bellavia, Tina Williams, and Samantha Wright shared a read out loud example and Module 4 examples. The notes are represented by creative names and illustrations: Twin Tina Eighth Notes. In Module 5, Samantha Wright explained math integration… in music education for kindergarten students! The last part is a math assessment for students. Notes are matched to beats with colorful illustrations and creative names.
The third video highlighted the fantastic illustrations the YAM resources have. The notes have names like “Treble Trouble,” and smooth jazz plays in the background. The notes talk to each other and play music. There was one clip about the “Rhythm Train” and the music teacher. The train moved and notes boarded… and in the process learners appreciate 4-4 rhythms!
The fourth video was again Samantha Wright and Tina Williams providing an overview of the modules. This may have been unintentionally duplicated. Nevertheless, I watched it again to learn about the course structure and design. This is a course that is intended for kindergarten teachers to teach music and math to young learners. I think this video was created for the teachers and provides an overview of the course modules and resources.
