[HANASHIR:6516] Re: A Jewish music curriculum for schools

[Burton A. Zipser <zipmusic...>]

   In response to the reply of Cantor Neil Schwartz (July 14) with respect
to a request for a music curriculum to use in a school, he recommended the
use of "Manginot", including a separate guide book.
   Please note that (as stated during both the ACC and CA conferences in
May and June), actually there is no specific music curriculum now in exist-
ence in either Reform or Conservative congregations.  Manginot is an ex-
cellence reference source for musical selections which can be used in
religious schools.  However, the individual schools would need to include
additional materials which reflect the particular liturgical melodies used
in the congregation.  The accompanying guide book does categorize the
melodies found in "Manginot" by grouping them according to a series of
topics relating to some of the areas of study which are found in many, if
not all congregations.  Again, additional materials might need to be added
to reflect either local/regional or topical selections.
   In a strict interpretation of the concept and objective of a curriculum,
which is designed to be more specific with respect to what materials, books,
prayers, and musical choices were provided, grade by grade, no specific
curriculum now exists.  This is why Jewish religious schools (other than
day schools which often follow an approach modelled after public school
curricular choices) often adopt the approach that, when a child comes
enters a school after moving to a new community, there should be no as-
sumption that the child has a common body of knowledge which will be the
same or similar to what children already enrolled in a specific congrega-
tional school for several years may know.  The exception is found in the
study of Hebrew, for which there are several graded series of books now
in use which do suggest that a child may at least have covered specific
content areas as part of previous educational experience.
   Obviously, a genral music curriculum would be very helpful in providing
children in our religious schools to have a common Jewish musical heritage.
If any of those who are listed with "hanashir" would be interested in
beginning to develop such a curriculum, or if you have a curriculum which
is now being used in the congregation which you serve or which you have
created, I would be very happy to receive such curricular models and any
names of those who would be interested in working to develop a curriculum.
Any curricula submitted will not be plagiarized, but will be used to assist
whomever is interested in undertaking this project.  Certainly such a pro-
ject could also involve members of the CAJE Music Network, the ACC, the CA,
and the GTM, working as individuals or as representatives of their respec-
tive organizations.
   As background I offer 15 years of experience as a public school music edu-
cator plus a similar number of years teaching music and other subjects in
both reform and Conservative congregations, as well as graduate majors and
degrees in music education.
   Please contact me first via my e-mail address.
                Burton A. Zipser

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