The music learning experience

Music Basti is usually the first experience of the child with a form of structured music learning. Through singing, playing instruments, creating, moving, guided listening, and other experiential involvement, an atmosphere is created for young children to discover and develop their musical abilities.

The creative process motivates children to share, analyze, and evaluate their own work, and the work of others. Emphasis is on the process of how children arrive at the product or performance as a result of instruction, rather than solely on the end result.

The educational process advances access to information and knowledge, learning of skills through demonstration and practice, and healthy attitudinal changes that encourage self- worth.

At present, Music Basti has four focus areas:

• Music Education Workshop Series and Content Development
• Special Workshops and Concerts
• The Song Project
• Learn- an- Instrument Project

Content development and integration

Music is used to reinforce and helps students learn mathematics skills such as counting and grouping, emerging literacy skills such as sound/symbol correspondence, and the writing process. Students are encouraged to model character traits such as cooperation, respect, responsibility, kindness, integrity, courage, perseverance, self-discipline, and good judgment through their participation in music.

Songs and other creative exercises are used to promote these messages, character traits and values. Song writing, performances and workshops involve the creativity and imagination of children to infuse meaning from their world into the music.

Music Basti’s program involves integration in the areas of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and other content areas both within and outside of the arts.

The music content focuses on developing rhythm, melody, pitch, music awareness and appreciation, through a combination of non- formal and formal teaching methods, message driven songs and activities. These are developed in a child centric manner, taking into account learning needs and desires of the children.

Program Continuity

Throughout the program, objectives progress from one level to the next. Some objectives may recur at more than one level; however, the content, instruction, outcomes, and evaluation methods should increase in sophistication at each level, or whenever differentiation is appropriate. Objectives are modified as much as possible to meet the instructional and developmental needs of each student.

Simultaneously, or with the completion of the Music Basti program, children keen on pursuing music further will be networked with local music schools. Additionally, the monitoring and evaluation of the impact of the music program on the children is documented, and forms the basis for improvements and modifications to the programs.