The unique and challenging experience of teaching and learning music in rural schools. If you would like to contribute to this eColumn, send an email to Vincent Bates.
Thanks to all who worked on the new Mayday Group website. It looks great! Now, I can resume writing about rural music education: I was watching a Henry Giroux video recently where he spoke with Bill Moyers (http://billmoyers.com/segment/henry-giroux-on-zombie-politics/) about his new book, Zombie Politics and Culture in the Age of Casino Capitalism. There is much that I agree […]
One of the greatest advantages/positives/joys about teaching in small rural communities is the sense of community. Of course, one could argue that community can be found anywhere, not just in rural places. And, that is true. However . . . if we follow one of the founders of sociology, Ferdinand Tönnies’ definition of community, rural places […]
I came across this article about a rural music education program in Oregon. I have mixed feelings, of course. The author, James Bash, writes: ”If you ever grew up out in the middle of nowhere, you might have an understanding of how hard it is to acquire a music education. Some small towns might still have a church organist […]
I was saddened to learn last week that Joe Bageant, author of Deer Hunting with Jesus, Rainbow Pie, and a whole bunch of critical essays, had passed away. His straight-forward critiques of unsustainable modernity (from a rural perspective) are priceless. His essays can be accessed in pdf form at:http://www.joebageant.com/joe/2011/04/joe-bageant-poet-redneck-revolutionary-rip.html. Of course, I say that his was a rural, working […]
For anyone interested in rural music education research here’s a brief bibliography that could serve as a starting point for background readings. Cappaert, seek Thomas (2004). Member 2 Member: Outreach—Introducing Strings to a Rural Town in Latin America. American String Teacher 54:2, 53-54. Cooper, Shelly (2005). Marguerite V. Hood and Music Education Radio Broadcasts in Rural Montana […]
Thanks, store Phil Hash, for sending the link to an article I had overlooked in Gender, Education, Music & Society (GEMS): ”Portrait of a Rural Teacher,” by Janet Spring (University of Toronto). Here’s the link:http://www.queensu.ca/music/links/gems/past/No.%204/springarticle.html
Yes, I like maps. Here’s a map of rural outmigration by county in the United States. A couple of reasons for outmigration are excellent schools (many economic opportunities for well-educated students are in metropolitan areas) and not-as-desirable landscapes. Scenic rural areas tend to attract new people. Also, medical rural counties with reliable broadband access tend to […]
The Center for American Progress has an outstanding interactive map showing the number of rural students and rural students in poverty state by state: Interactive Map: Rural Students in Poverty There is also a report on effective rural schools. Check it out!
Thanks to Cathy Benedict for bringing to my attention MENC”s latest offering on rural, suburban, and urban music teaching. Here is the rural part with my comments in brackets: “So, have you thought about where you want to teach? Rural, suburban, urban–how different are they? Janice Smith, Frank Heuser, and Michele Kaschub offer up the rewards and […]
I notice Rural and Urban Music Education being grouped together at multiple conferences along with the assertion that they share a lot of the same challenges. Other than higher levels of poverty than suburban areas, seek I’m not sure I would agree that there are significant similarities. Does it really benefit rural music students and […]