Laia Viladot

Innovar en la escuela de música: un proyecto compartido con la universidad

Resumen Se presenta la experiencia de innovación didáctica en una escuela municipal de música que cuenta con la asesoría de un equipo de universidad. Se explicitan los referentes conceptuales y los principios de la propuesta, y se describe el funcionamiento y los factores que caracterizan su aplicación y desarrollo. Con ella se intenta un cambio sustantivo del enfoque y metodología caracterizados por la construcción compartida del conocimiento musical en torno a actividades de escucha, interpretación y creación; de representación y expresión por medio de diferentes lenguajes. La confluencia de innovación, formación del profesorado e investigación explican la continuidad y calado de la experiencia. Su desarrollo es responsable de la formación de equipos mixtos de profesionales de diferentes niveles y categorías, coordinados en las tareas del diseño y evaluación de la experiencia. La difusión de los trabajos y el intercambio con otros profesores de escuelas de música cohesiona el equipo y enriquece la experiencia.

The integration of music and mathematics education in Catalonia and England: perspectives on theory and practice

ABSTRACT The relationship between music and mathematics has often been the subject of discussion, both inside and outside the field of education. As part of an exciting project on a European scale, the paper explores the changing contexts in Catalonia (Spain) and England (UK) in relation to the integrated approach to the teaching of music and mathematics. We analyse three areas: academic literature, the curriculum frameworks and publications and resources prepared by and for teachers. Our findings suggest that due to the more favourable attitude towards cross-curricular approaches in education, more progress has been made in England, in terms of developing resources to support an integrated approach to the teaching of music and mathematics, than in Catalonia. Nonetheless, teachers in both locations are very interested in developing these approaches. Although there is a need for further teacher training and support, there is evidence of progress already being made in schools.

Teaching–learning resources and supports in the music classroom: Key aspects for the inclusion of visually impaired students

Currently, there still exist barriers that prevent a satisfactory connection between music education and the visually impaired population. This is due to the teachers’ lack of preparation and their general ignorance of the functioning of the Braille music system, the materials, specialist support, and other tools needed for the inclusion of this type of students in the classroom. In order to familiarize the educational community with the resources and specialist support involved in inclusive music teaching, we conducted and analysed semi-structured interviews with the following persons: (1) the music specialists at the Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles Resource Centre (Spanish National Organization of the Blind); (2) a music teacher who had two visually impaired students in her classes; and (3) a blind student who studied music and had specialized in piano performance. The contributions made by this article consist of the categorization of the different teaching–learning resources involved in inclusion, information on how specialist support can be provided to facilitate these resources, and the relationships between resources and specialist support taking into account the point of view of teacher as the main figure responsible for inclusion in the music classroom.