The Muse Project - About Usby Lynda Roth, Creative Director of The Muse ProjectHow did we all learn our "ABC's?" Each of us, whether we could carry a tune or not, learned our alphabet in song. No one told us to memorize A to M this week, N to Z the next. Each of us, whether or not we are accomplished vocalists, can sing and recall the alphabet in this manner. The basic concept of The Muse Project is that all students, whether or not they are accomplished readers, will engage with and make meaning from difficult, often dry texts if information is presented musically. America Revealed, The Muse Project's premier program, is not only an effective learning tool, but also... (continue reading...) ... an example of aesthetic education in its purest form. Each musical composition stands on its own as art, and as such, inspires imagination and creative response. After the appropriate material is selected, original texts in American history and literature are set to music. Music based on seminal documents in American history, such as The Declaration of Independence, The Emancipation Proclamation, The Indian Removal Act represents the "vision" of America. Music based on speeches, writings, and poetry from the Native America tradition, the Women's Movement, the Civil Rights Movement represents the "reality" of America. By studying the documents and literature in class, then engaging the text through music, students discover how the reality of America and the vision of America have impacted one another. They come to understand that the vision of America has had an effect on real people, and these people in turn have altered the vision of America, continually, back and forth over the course of our history. Currently, the music is composed with a complexity to be sung at the secondary and college levels. However, recordings of each piece are effective listening tools in the classroom at all levels; high school, middle school and elementary school down to fifth grade. The power of music to evoke emotion, illuminate hidden meaning, and elicit contemplative, creative and critical thinking has become increasingly apparent to educators. With America Revealed, we at The Muse Project hope to tap this power. Please take a few minutes to view our Video - About Us, located on the Muse Home Page and thanks for your interest in the Muse Project! BACK TO MUSE HOME GO TO SITE MAP
The Muse Project
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