Sing, Say, Dance, and Play in a Culturally Responsive Way — Part 7

• Manju Durairaj
• Posted 10/21/21
• 0 comments

Integrating Dance in an Online Setting

The ideas, notes, and materials are the intellectual property of Manju Durairaj. Please use and adapt them for use in your music room. However, you do not have permission to share without the express permission of the author.

Dance and movement are integrated into many aspects of the general music curriculum, as illustrated below. As my students ease back into in-person learning situations, now more than ever, I feel the importance of movement in the music class. My lesson design integrates movement to develop conceptual knowledge and skills.

In adapting variations to dances and movements, we need to be mindful of adapting actions that are culturally appropriate. In adapting dances to follow Covid protocols we focus on dances that can be performed safely or have movements that can be adapted within the cultural context.

Using diverse children’s literature, like The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh, can facilitate discussions using prompts from Visual Thinking Routines. When working with my students, we would create movements based on Bhangra figures that they have learned, and the lesson concludes with a Bhangra dance choreographed by the students. Students can create this dance independently or in small groups within the breakout rooms.

Diverse children’s books and media are a vital part of my music curriculum. They are where children see themselves affirmed, represented; characters and themes they can relate to; issues they can grow aware of. These stories integrated into a music curriculum do so much to develop empathy, collaboration, and healthy relationships.

I find that the combination of music-making and a powerful story can be tremendously impactful in keeping my students engaged in developing a deep understanding of musical elements — as well as growing them as individuals with healthy social-emotional identities.

In Part 8: Playing & Performing With Online Musical Tools, we will also use a children’s book to explore how we can compose using online musical tools.

References

Project Zero’s Thinking Routine Toolbox. PZ’s Thinking Routines Toolbox | Project Zero. (n.d.). http://pz.harvard.edu/thinking-routines#Objects&Systems.

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Sing, Say Dance, and Play in a Culturally Responsive Way

Article Series

Part 1: Detangling the Terminology
Part 2: Creating a Learning Partnership
Part 3: Technology and the Music Room
Part 4: Opening Routines – Creating Connections
Part 5: Teaching Singing the Virtual Way
Part 6: Chanting and Hand-Clapping Games from a Distance
Part 7: Integrating Dance in an Online Setting
Part 8: Playing & Performing With Online Musical Tools
Part 9: Video – Sing, Say, Dance and Play in a Responsive Way