Modern Band and Special Learners. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Knapp, David
• Is Part Of: General music today. Volume 34:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 49
• Page End: 52
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: differentiation -- modern band -- popular music -- special learners -- universal design for learning; School music -- Instruction and study -- United States -- Periodicals; Music teachers -- Training of -- United States -- Periodicals; 780
• DOI: 10.1177/1048371320942279
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1048-3713

Abstract

For the greater part of the past 50 years, music educators have advocated for contemporary approaches to music education that reflect the interests of students. This has recently manifested in an approach to music education that scholars call Modern Band. Though the term lacks any one definition, Modern Band classes typically involve popular music making with guitars, drum set, electric bass, and keyboard. Among the features of this approach is a student-centered orientation that is focused on the individual learner. Additionally, Modern Band is rooted in informal music-learning theory, which easily lends itself to the inclusive principles of universal design for learning and differentiated instruction . Because of this, Modern Band may be a perfect fit for inclusive music classrooms.