CSC students, prof attend music workshop
Three Chadron State College music students and James Margetts, assistant professor of music, spent a week in late July attending a workshop in early childhood music education in Billings, Mont. The students participating were Rachael Christian of Gordon, Becky Hoekema of Sidney and Nichole Neal of North Platte. Marian Beutler, a former adjunct music instructor at CSC, took part in a portion of the training.
Following the workshop, Margetts said he and the students were certified to teach the Muskigarten curriculum to children from birth through age 5.
Margetts called the Musikgarten curriculum exciting. He said it approaches music-making as a natural, family-centered activity, which should fit well with the values of Chadron and neighboring communities.
“There are all sorts of studies in support of providing music and movement activities for children from the time that they are born,” Margetts said. “The first few years are crucial for musical development.
“I want to be clear that this curriculum is not simply about cultivating a child's musical ability. The premise of Musikgarten is that all children are musical, and that music is for all children. However, these music and movement classes also promote development of language, motor skills, social skills and a variety of other important traits.”
Margetts added that the training and certification can be valuable to CSC music majors who plan to have an independent teaching business because it gives them additional flexibility to reach children who are younger than the age when instrumental lessons traditionally begin.
The Musikgarten curriculum extends to age nine. Margetts said it is anticipated that some members of the group will take the second portion of the training in the future.
Category: Campus News