ED2MCE3: "Music, Children and Education 2"

Module code: ED2MCE3

Module provider: Institute of Education

Credits: 20

Level: 5

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Rebecca Berkley , email: r.m.berkley@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 29 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is concerned with music education as a field of study. A central focus is the development of student as a reflective musical practitioner. Through a series of lectures, seminars and practical activities, participants are introduced to theoretical perspectives on music psychology with a focus on musical learning and assessment and their practical application to curriculum music teaching. 

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• To introduce students to key concepts in music psychology relating to cognitive development, and how these inform music teaching and learning. 
• To develop students as musicians in the classroom and reflective practitioners by developing their classroom musicianship skills to teach music in the primary classroom 
• To enable students to develop modes of assessment and appraisal of their own musical learning and that of children 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of key aspects underlying theory and practice in music psychology relating to musical education and their own professional practice 
2. Review and critically assess music psychology research and scholarship, especially focusing on learning through composing and performing, the development of aural acuity in children, and the ways musical learning contributes to the development of the whole person in education.  
3. Demonstrate their analytical thinking in the way they create a literature review to inform their academic poster and presentation assessment, drawing on a range of academic and professional sources, appraising these according to validity and relevance to the field of enquiry 
4. Use their classroom musicianship skills creatively in primary music teaching 

Module content

The module requires students to engage with research in music psychology and apply it to music education in theory and practice. Students are expected to develop a broad perspective on a range of music psychology topics in order to engage critically with the discipline and to make inter-disciplinary connections where applicable. Throughout the module students engage in practical activity and academic study of:  

• Intermediate level solfa pedagogy 
• Leading and directing classroom performance 
• How classroom musicianship skills may be developed in primary aged children, particularly focusing on children in KS2 
• Age related development in music cognition and skill acquisition 
• Musical aptitude and musical abilities 
• Cognition in composing and improvising, performing 
• The development of musical literacy in children 
• What observable musical behaviours can be assessed to determine musical progress 
• Modelling and critical review of different musical pedagogies  

The module makes reference to relevant and key aspects of the Primary Phase Curriculum and ITT Core Content Framework (CCF) to inform design. 

The online reading list for this module is available in the University library 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching and learning methods will explore practical scenarios in teaching primary music, focusing on teaching KS2 children. Students will learn in practical workshops and seminars. Taught sessions will include a balance of tutor led instruction, group discussion, practical music ma