Music Classes

The image is a green rectangular sign with the text "Music Classes" with a music tone clipart.

Equitable Course Requirements

Ensure course requirements are not inherently discriminatory or exclude deaf students from the opportunity to complete the class. Requirements should detail desired outcomes (functional) rather than how tasks should be accomplished (organic).

Here is a sample course objective with organic requirements:

Aurally identify the salient characteristics of a musical performance. This will include both small-scale observations, such as instrumentation and timbre, and large-scale ones, such as style and form.

Illustration of sheet music. On the right, a large treble clef on the left, two half notes surrounded by lines. 

When the term “aurally” is removed — “Students will identify the salient characteristics of a musical performance” — the course objective no longer dictates how the student must accomplish this objective and opens the opportunity to showcase their knowledge and skills in other ways.

Aural identification of music may also be a struggle for hearing students. Students who may be visual or kinesthetic learners could benefit from a broader definition of identifying musical elements.

Other Access Strategies

Other strategies for participation in music courses include:

  • Read and mark sheet music or scores to identify specific styles, form, texture, melody, dynamics, etc.
  • Instrument identification by name through drawing, photo images, and video recordings.
  • Researching literature and historical contexts about a genre, artist, composer, or song.
  • Lyrical analysis.
  • Composing or performing music utilizing a learned style.

Additional Resources

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