Music and Language: interview with Allison Cameron

12/02/19 • 20 min

In this episode I chat with Allison Cameron, who is completing a PhD at the University of Wollongong. Her research has looked at the effects of a children's music education program upon the language development of 4 and 5 year-olds. The music program is called Tuning In - it's part of the Shoalhaven Youth Orchestra, based in Nowra on the NSW south coast.

Although Allison’s research focuses on preschool-aged children, there's so much relevance in it to music teaching in the early primary years. She would love to be able to communicate about her research and the wider benefits of well-structured and implemented music programs.

Episode highlights:

Allison’s research into the effects of a children’s music education program on language development 4 & 5 year olds.
The ‘Tuning-In’ program in the shoalhaven area - to increase pool of students playing instruments (to join orchestra)
Seeing language development problems in pre-school.
Developing a way to research the effects of a music program on preschool children.
4 preschools - two of which became ‘Tuning in’ schools.
Testing for phonological awareness.
Improvements in communication.
Music making is a social practice and provides a framework for building relationships.
Playing music in a group is the ultimate team sport and builds self-esteem.
Telling stories with instruments.
Babies, language and singing.

HINTS & TIPS VIDEO: https://youtu.be/8u5Jc3D5p3c

Episode highlights:

Allison’s research into the effects of a children’s music education program on language development 4 & 5 year olds.
The ‘Tuning-In’ program in the shoalhaven area - to increase pool of students playing instruments (to join orchestra)
Seeing language development problems in pre-school.
Developing a way to research the effects of a music program on preschool children.
4 preschools - two of which became ‘Tuning in’ schools.
Testing for phonological awareness.
Improvements in communication.
Music making is a social practice and provides a framework for building relationships.
Playing music in a group is the ultimate team sport and builds self-esteem.
Telling stories with instruments.
Babies, language and singing.

HINTS & TIPS VIDEO: https://youtu.be/8u5Jc3D5p3c

Previous Episode

Words and Music: Interview with Christoph Maubach

Show Notes:

In this episode I chat with Christoph Maubach, international lecturer, presenter and trainer in the Orff Schulwerk approach to music education.

Christoph is also a freelance musician and composer and an author of several music and dance publications for children and teachers.

Speaking to me from his home in New Zealand, he discussed his passion for ‘words and music’ - the way words can lead to music and composition, even for very young children.

Our podcast home page is at
www.musicroom.net.au
Episode highlights:

The main reason Christoph is attracted to the Orff Schulwerk approach to music education.
How the Orff approach helps other areas of curriculum.
What if there were a music education opportunity that would involve the combination of words, language/literacy, getting to know how words sound, playing with words, and at the same time learning aspects of music education?
Creating a performance piece, through language, in 20-30 minutes.
Using a small piece of poetry and developing it with percussion and voice.
Giving the children permission to participate.
Example: a poem about rain.
Developing the text through student participation, with body percussion.
Keep the text short.
The printed word comes later.
Exploring the feel and musicality of words.
Some texts/poems already have an underlying beat/pulse and rhythmic qualities.
Using phrases from a poem as a loop.
Student writing - the haiku and its musical possibilities.
Words can easily be made into music.
Poem: ‘The wind makes lots of noises ...’
How many ways can we say the words?
How can we graphically notate what we do with symbols?
The teacher can provide a graphic score.
The use of words in contemporary arts.

Recipe:

Tournedos Rossini
A French steak dish, created for 19th century composer Gioachino Rossini.

The dish comprises a beef tournedos (filet mignon), pan-fried in butter, served on a crouton, and topped with a hot slice of fresh whole foie gras briefly pan-fried at the last minute. The dish is garnished with slices of black truffle and finished with a Madeira demi-glace sauce.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tournedos_Rossini

Quote
A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence. Leopold Stokowski

Christoph’s Orff resources with Music Room - published by Bushfire Press
Look for the free activities!

https://www.bushfirepress.com.au/primary/music/orff-resources/ (Orff Beats)

Next Episode

Putting on a Show: Interview with Lynne Bartlett

In this episode I chat with Lynne Bartlett about putting on a show with primary/elementary schools. Lynne has been involved in the writing of no fewer than 16 primary school shows and assorted plays and mini-musicals, as well as touring curriculum-based educational performances to schools. Lynne has is a founder partner in Bushfire Press. She holds an Associate Diploma in Speech & drama from Trinity College in the UK. Lynne has been working in primary schools since the Eighties and is still passionate and active, mentoring and team teaching with performing arts teachers, writing and, of course, helping schools put on concerts and shows.

In this interview, Lynne walks us through the steps from deciding to do a school production to pulling up the curtain on opening night.

Episode highlights: