Developing Fresh Methods for Group Teaching Strategies
UCLA's School of Music Embraces Innovation in Remote Learning
The School of Music at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) continues to innovate its curriculum in the current spring quarter, as special topics courses remain a key component of the department's offerings. This shift towards specialized courses began during the transition to remote learning, as universities around the world, including UCLA's Department of Music, sought to adapt their music curricula to the new challenges posed by the pandemic.
Large ensemble classes, which are traditionally challenging to conduct remotely, were replaced or supplemented with special topics courses that students could engage with online or in hybrid formats. These classes provide focused study on particular areas of music theory, history, technology, or pedagogy, often involving lectures, discussions, and project-based work suitable for online delivery.
One example of such a course is "Social Justice Issues in Classical Music," which examines music’s effects socially, developmentally, and cognitively, making it more conducive to remote learning formats. Other course topics this quarter include "The Entrepreneurial Musician on Social Media," "Improvisation for Classical Musicians," and "Discovery of World Music: Learning Music from UCLA Ethnomusicology Faculty and Ensemble Directors."
The conducting faculty collaborated to devise an unconventional, cross-departmental substitution for large ensembles: a series of special topics courses. These experimental offerings have been successful and have continued into the current winter quarter.
The Department's Chair, Travis J. Cross, organized a two-day virtual symposium during the summer to gather diverse perspectives and plan for a potentially remote fall quarter. The event facilitated the exchange of ideas and provided an important opportunity for personal and professional connection during a time of physical distance. Eileen Strempel, the school's Inaugural Dean, is proud of the faculty's efforts to develop innovative options for students.
The special topics courses allow students to explore new areas of interest and expand their horizons. The faculty are working to adjust and improve the special topics courses for students during the upcoming spring quarter. Despite the eagerness for a return to in-person instruction and ensemble performance, these courses demonstrate creative thinking in the face of unforeseen challenges.
In addition to these courses, the School of Music has also hosted virtual symposiums, bringing together faculty and colleagues from other universities. A course titled "Creating Inclusive Orchestral Audition Lists" and "Historical and Recorded Perspectives: The American Choral Tradition" are also offered.
As UCLA's Department of Music and similar institutions continue to innovate their curricula, they ensure the continuity and depth of musical education during remote learning, maintaining student learning and engagement through adaptable curricula during periods when in-person large ensembles are not feasible. Students from all across the School are invited to enroll in the special topics courses, making this a unique and enriching academic experience.
- Embracing innovation in remote learning, UCLA's School of Music offers specialized courses like "Social Justice Issues in Classical Music" and "The Entrepreneurial Musician on Social Media" as part of its online education, enabling students to broaden their learning in education-and-self-development.
- In line with the shift towards remote learning, UCLA's Department of Music has integrated project-based, online-education courses such as "Improvisation for Classical Musicians" and "Discovery of World Music" into its curriculum, ensuring that students continue their learning journey despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.
