Dive Into Music with Digital Tools and Strategies

National core arts standards, as developed by the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards (NCCAS), are based on four core processes in which artists of all formats engage: creating, performing/presenting/producing, responding, and connecting. When reviewing the music standards, it becomes clear that music literacy is not a passive study of theory. It involves “doing” music in authentic ways. In fact, all four core areas include descriptions that involve active processes.

• Creating: Students will imagine, plan and make, evaluate and refine, and then present creative musical work.
• Performing: Students will select, analyze, interpret, rehearse/evaluate/refine, and then present a musical performance.
• Responding: Students will select, analyze, interpret, and evaluate musical works and performances.
• Connecting: Students will make personal connections as they create, perform, and respond to music.

While these core skills are important to developing musically, they will also help students develop strong transferable skills that will enable them to be more successful in many areas of their lives beyond music.

In this collection of articles, we’ll explore resources that you and your students can use to develop musical literacy in the four core standard areas as well as ways to develop the foundational skills and knowledge necessary to be a successful musician.