Integrating music in the primary core-curriculum

Abstract

This study identifies the importance of the integration of music in the primary curriculum. This research consisted of analysing the primary curriculum of the core subjects of Year 4, 5 and 6. With consultation with the class teacher, the authors identified two particular topics per year in each age group mentioned above in different subjects. After observing core-subjects lessons without the integration of music, lessons were designed in a way that music was part and parcel of the delivery of the core subjects. This entails that one of the outcomes is a resource pack. Six core-subject lessons were delivered: two lessons per each age group (Year 4, 5 & 6). The authors delivered the Maths lessons in Year 4 classes, English lessons in Year 5 classes and Maltese lessons in Year 6 classes. After delivering these lessons, a post mortem with the class teacher together with our tutor, took place. The post-mortem phase consisted of analysing the outcomes of a normal core- subject lesson without the use of music against the outcomes of the same core subject lessons with the use of music. Considering the fact that the authors integrated music in the core- subjects, they took a cross- disciplinary approach, "teaching via an integrated approach is regarded as beneficial to students because connections are drawn between content areas so as to help them develop greater understanding of concepts inherent across disciplines." (Still, K & Bobis, J, 2015)