Post Two

Music as an Educational Text

My inquiry project will center on the use of music as a text for education, especially through the lens of English Language Arts (ELA). As both a musician and avid reader, with dual endorsements, I think it is important to stress the value of each subject. Although English is considered to be a core subject, and music, an art elective, I believe they are both necessary skills, and that they both have artistic value.

I believe that students should be able to reach content through a variety of channels, and music provides a strong learning resource for many students. Within the public school system, particularly Albuquerque Public Schools (APS), I do not think that music is treated as a valuable tool for education. Therefore, my project will analyze how ELA content can be taught through music, which I intend to implement in my own classroom one day.

I will be focusing specifically on "Hamilton: An American Musical", by Lin-Manuel Miranda, which took Broadway by force and has wrestled its way across the nation and the world, offering an up-close view of the American Revolution and tensions between the Founding Fathers. However, beyond this project, I will also be considering the value of "Newsies", "Wicked" and "Les Miserables".

Where I Am

Although I had heard of Hamilton, and had listened to several of the songs, I was truly introduced to Hamilton last spring during one of my classes. In the course, we were studying relevant Young Adult (YA) literature, and how it can be implemented into the middle or high school classroom. I am very familiar with the musical, and have heard the entire soundtrack countless times. However, I have not seen the musical performed, with the exception of several short video clips. I know that Hamilton has found its way into a variety of classrooms, including history, language arts, rhetoric, and art. I have a solid foundation in Broadway musicals, and am familiar with the music of many musicals. I am also trained as a technical musician, and comfortable with musical analysis. 

Where I Want to Go

Although I know that Hamilton is being used in the classroom, I am interested in specific lessons, and how teachers address the controversial issues within the musical. I am also interested in how teachers are extending the lesson and giving students opportunities to practice the material they are learning. I intend to locate material defending the marriage of music and literacy, as well as resources for effective teaching of musicals. I will be considering whether Hamilton should be used as its own unit, or whether it fits best in a specific unit of study. 

Resources

I found the following handbook very useful in understanding how musical theater can be used to teach a variety of subjects and concepts: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/61415927.pdf

This website praises use of Hamilton in the classroom, and provides specific insights into the use of the musical: https://theeducatorsroom.com/using-hamilton-musical-classroom/

This article celebrates the inclusion of ethnicity, diversity, and immigrants in Hamilton: http://the-toast.net/2015/10/01/race-immigration-and-hamilton/

Finally, this article details the diversity of style and themes within Hamilton: https://www.thenation.com/article/how-hamilton-is-revolutionizing-the-broadway-musical/.

7/18/2018