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Decolonizing The Music Room EDUC 3871 - Fall 2020 Brianna Nolan Questions
Decolonizing The Music Room EDUC 3871 - Fall 2020 Brianna Nolan Questions
Decolonizing The Music Room EDUC 3871 - Fall 2020 Brianna Nolan Questions
Questions:
What does it mean to decolonize the music room? How do the principles of DTMR inspire you to actively
adapt your worldview as an emerging educator? How might DTMR shape your decisions moving forward
Position Statement:
To me, to decolonize the music room means to wait, to have patience, a willingness to change,
and to really consider what we are putting into the hands and heads of the children in our schools. To
accomplish the change that is needed, a whole-group approach is needed rather than an individual
approach. However, one individual can spark the light for a group to get moving towards the needed
change. This is how Decolonizing the Music Room (DTMR) began – one individual saw a need and acted
on it. The mission of DTMR is to “help music educators develop critical practices and center BBIA (Black,
Brown, Indigenous, and Asian) voices, knowledge, and experiences in order to challenge the historical
dominance of white Western European and American music, narratives, and practices” (DTMR Website,
2020). With this, I am inspired to learn more. I want to be an active part in making change for my
students and help them to be aware of the situation we are living in. I believe that change must start
somewhere, and if I can be a part of that change, I feel as though I am doing my part as an educator in
general.
whole. To make this understanding complete, one must know what it was, the impacts, and how it is
currently affecting the world (Waller-Pace, 2020). Information can be found by taking time to do some
research, so as I branch out into this field, researching the effects and lasting impacts of colonialism is
something that I need to do. By focusing on change and the way it can impact the classroom, the
curriculum is brought forth in a different way. Rather than strictly teaching by the book, it can be
presented in such a way that it promotes the stories and experiences of the students in our classrooms
(Urbach, 2020).
As an educator moving forward from an early place in my career, DTMR is going to impact my
teaching in big ways. As an individual who grew up in Brooks, Alberta, the City of 100 Hellos,
multiculturalism needs to play a big role in the decisions that are made, inside and outside of our
schools. As time goes on, more and more children from countries all around the world are moving to
Brooks and are becoming a prominent part of the classroom. This multiculturalism that surrounds me
needs to influence my teaching in the music classroom and beyond because these students exist in more
than just the music classroom. By realizing their differences and being open to change, I can make their
learning experience more powerful as I give them opportunities to showcase their home cultures. A part
of this involves planning with a purpose – plans must be made with the past experiences of all students
in mind (Willis, 2020) – in the music classroom, if a song is insensitive for one culture then by using that
song we are teaching other students that same insensitivity. This is the teaching style we need to move
away from as times have changed and continue to change everyday. I believe that students can be
teachers – if they have lived and experienced a concept, they should be the ones to share about it. In my
teaching, I will do my best to remain open to change and I will help to make sure each student’s light can
shine in my classroom.
References
https://decolonizingthemusicroom.com/mission
Urbach, M. (2019, August 31). Emergent Strategies For An Activist Music Education. Retrieved October
an-activist-music-education
Waller-Pace, B. (2020, July 21). Why Decolonizing? Retrieved October 03, 2020, from
https://decolonizingthemusicroom.com/in-practice/f/why-decolonizing
Willis, F. J. (2020, March 22). How to F.I.N.D. the Brilliance In Our Students. Retrieved October 03, 2020,
from https://decolonizingthemusicroom.com/in-practice/f/how-to-find-the-brilliance-in-our-
students