When music educator Mary Jane Wilkie first stepped into the classroom, she thought she was amply prepared. She had been a high-school Spanish teacher, a master's degree in musicology, and a twenty-year career in various areas of business.
But now, she faced middle-school students who were incredulous at her expectation that they would sing with their own voices. And while her younger children were eager to participate, they didn't seem to have previous experience with the most basic traditional songs or singing games.
Music from the Trenches is both a memoir of Wilkie's teaching experiences and a reflection on today's musical culture. Through poignant stories about her students and her struggles to teach them, she educates parents on the learning process so they can make better decisions for their child's music education.
In this book, parents will learn how to:
- distinguish good from mediocre music;
- assess the capabilities of a school music program;
- understand the performance experience;
- evaluate the use of technology;
- establish a music-rich home that will prepare children for life in its richest sense; and
- have confidence in the power of good music.
Rediscover the timeless joys of making music and experience the remarkable benefits that result from this creative, full-body activity.
About the Author: Mary Jane Wilkie is a music educator and writer who has witnessed firsthand the benefits children gain from making music.
Since 1994, she has taught in private and public schools in California and New York. Outside of the school system, she has taught piano and theater to young children and served as an accompanist and music director for children's and youth theater productions.
Trained in the Kodály and Orff music pedagogies, Wilkie holds an MA in musicology from Brooklyn College. Over the years, she has shared her knowledge and experiences with other educators by offering workshops for classroom teachers who want to incorporate music into their curriculum, and for teachers wishing to know about specific music pedagogies.
Wilkie has published articles on music and children and now directs her expertise toward parents with her inspiring music education memoir, Music from the Trenches.
