Planning your program
Resourcing music learning programs
All music learning programs will require a wide range of resources to engage students and meet their individual learning needs. Resourcing music learning programs can involve as many complex decisions and as much careful planning as deciding on the methodologies that teachers will use in the classroom. The resources that might be needed for the music program at your school will probably include people, teaching and performance spaces, instruments, playback and recording equipment, digital hardware, software and peripherals and both sheet and recorded music.
Whether you are beginning, developing or refocusing a program, having a planned approach to monitoring how resources are being used in the program, and identifying potential resources that would be a great fit with the aims and direction of the program, is important. Mapping resources against your music program vision statement and curriculum plan is one way to start. Inviting all members of the teaching team, along with parents and students, to contribute ideas is one way of staying up to date about the resources available for music education.
Think about
What’s on your resource wish list? Do you have a plan to turn the wishes into reality? Who might be able to help? Evaluate the potential of resources, for example:
- Consider how potential resources will be used, such as to assist students to: listen, compose, perform, record, distribute, collaborate, rehearse, build technique or develop aural skills.
- How will this resource allow students to enjoy their music learning experiences and develop their musical understanding?
- Does this resource broaden the range of music traditions and styles from different cultural and social contexts that can be incorporated into the music program?
- Will the resource assist students to become capable and confident users of digital technologies?
- Who is the resource for? Some may assist the teacher, others may be used by students.
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