UT2UMC+VILLANOVA+PRE-COURSE+ASSIGNMENT

Villanova Summer Music Program, Dr. Scott Watson, Instructor The pre-course assignment for this class involves two components: 1) Reading and 2) Reflecting. You should receive the text for the class, //Using Technology to Unlock Musical Creativity// by Scott Watson (2011, Oxford University Press) in the weeks preceding the class.
 * USING TECHNOLOGY TO UNLOCK MUSICAL CREATIVITY **
 * Pre-Course Assignment [10 hours] **

__Read chapters 1 – 10 (pp. 1-105)__. These are not very long chapters (and most include supporting graphics), but they do present important philosophical underpinning for the class as well as eight principles/concepts that can strengthen creative musical activities and projects when implemented with students. I encourage you to look over the questions below and take notes or actually answer the questions as you do the reading.
 * __PART 1: READING__**

__Type responses to the following five questions regarding the text__. I am looking for thoughtful, journal-type responses. Feel free to write informally. In addition to addressing the specific topics/questions below, I encourage you to make observations or record questions you’d like to discuss in the class. //The following questions refer to chapter 2:// 1) Watson approaches the idea that creative, project-based learning is not only interesting/effective for music teachers and students, but increasingly more relevant in the world in which we live and work. Share items from this discussion that resonated with you. Share examples of the value of creative or “divergent” thinking that you have observed in society, academia, the workplace, or the global economy. 2) Do you already use creative musical activities/projects as part of the music curriculum in your school/district? If yes, share your approach and some examples of the most rewarding/effective activities and/or projects you use. If no, what are the reasons/obstacles/apprehensions that prevent you from creative music learning as described in the book? 3) What is a way, or are ways, that you express your creativity (musical or otherwise) in your life? In your teaching? //Eight Principles for Unlocking Musical Creativity are presented and described, with illustrations, in chapters 3 – 10. The following questions refer to those chapters:// 4) Name and discuss one of the Eight Principles you found interesting and/or helpful for eliciting creative musical efforts from students. Was this principle obvious or did it perhaps surprise you? Which examples given best illustrates the potency of this principle? Have you observed the validity of this principle in your own experience? If so, share. How might you use this principle in a lesson or activity you already do? Did the book’s discussion of this principle trigger in you any ideas for creative musical lessons, activities, or projects? If so, what? 5) Name and discuss another of the Eight Principles you found interesting and/or helpful for eliciting creative musical efforts from students. Was this principle obvious or did it perhaps surprise you? Which examples given best illustrates the potency of this principle? Have you observed the validity of this principle in your own experience? If so, share. How might you use this principle in a lesson or activity you already do? Did the book’s discussion of this principle trigger in you any ideas for creative musical lessons, activities, or projects? If so, what?
 * __PART 2: REFLECTING__**

Type up your responses in Word or Google docs and share electronically with your instructor, Dr. Scott Watson, at: //**drscottwatson@gmail.com**//. **Please either download the Word doc above (see top of page) or copy/paste the questions from this page onto your Word or Google doc, then type in your answers.**
 * __SUBMISSION__**
 * NOTE:** If you register late and/or are unable to complete and turn in this assignment by the start of class, you may still submit it for full credit up until 4:00 p.m. on Thursday the week of the class. After that, no credit will be awarded for this “Pre-Course” assignment.