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Quick Tips for Teaching Global Choral Music
- Teach with Respect
- Overall aim to honor the musical tradition, this isn’t about perfection it’s about learning
- Start with culture
- Introduce the history, traditions, and purpose of a piece before teaching the music
- Listen First
- Use short audio or video examples to familiarize students with the musical style
- Teach Beyond the Score
- Explore the language, movement, instruments, and cultural traditions connected to the repertoire
- Choose Repertoire carefully
- Whenever possible select music created or arranged by people from the culture being represented
- Connect with Community
- Invite culture bearers, guest artists, or community members to share their knowledge when possible
- Foster Respectful Conversations
- Encourage curiosity and appreciation instead of comparing every tradition to Western classical music
- Start Small
- Adding just one new culturally informed unit each year can build a diverse curriculum over time