3- Teaching Popular Music in Primary School: A narrative and discussion - Pascal Bujold, Commission scolaire Marie-Victorin

I have set up my own Popular Music program for the primary school where I teach. I teach the ukulele from grade 1 to 6 and guitar from grade 4 to 6. All students play drums, get recorded, and learn the basics of a sequencer. Students choose the repertoire they work on. We also cover song writing and recording.

First, I want to present what I do, my experiments and observations while comparing that with what I have been taught to do during my university training.

Secondly, I wish to discuss what should we teach in music class at the primary school level. Should it be sight singing or using a sequencer? Recorder or ukulele? What role does technology play within music for kids? Should we teach music as a performance art, a means of self/social expression, a group experience, as way to improve our brain? Is it for everybody? Also, could everything discussed here today find its way into music classes in primary schools and act as a guide for teaching?

When kids enter school, they are already “full of music”. I prefer allowing them to explore and play that music immediately instead of wiping the slate clean and starting from scratch.