Lessons Nine to Twelve
(Option A): Cultural Identity Research Project

Individuals, pairs or groups of students selecting this option will research a musician, composer, group or musical style from a specific cultural background.

•develop thesis statements and other written constructions required in essay writing (CEL: C)

Ask students to prepare a report or a five-minute presentation. They should include a short example of the music. Encourage students to select from a wide range of cultures.

Students might decide to explore the cultural roots of one or more of their group members. They might choose a culture from their community, or choose an area for study that is completely new or unfamiliar to them.

Some projects might include:

•continue to develop problem-solving and decision-making abilities when working individually or in a co-operative group

•use fiction, non-fiction, periodicals and periodical indexes, newspapers, pamphlets and audio visual materials as resources (CEL: C)

Students could begin by forming pairs or small groups to discuss the meaning of cultural identity. They could brainstorm ways in which arts traditions, and music in particular, create and maintain a culture's identity. Ask students to consider also the effect of cultural identity on one's personal identity. They should include ideas and observations on these topics in their reports or presentations. The reports should also include musical examples which support the students' ideas and observations. Ensure that students have a clear understanding of the assessment criteria that will be used in their evaluations.

•examine, analyse and interpret the work of musicians and composers within the music's cultural and historical context

Or, students could begin by examining more general traditions that are part of the culture or country they have selected to examine. How many of these traditions involve the arts?

In addition to using print, audio and visual resources, students could interview members of the community who have personal knowledge of the culture being studied. Students should try to locate several music examples to present to the class. Resources such as Worlds of Music; Music: The Art of Listening; The Listening Experience: Elements, Forms and Styles in Music; and Music: Its Role and Importance in our Lives contain audio recordings that students may use as resources for their research and presentations. Consult the Arts Education bibliography for other resources.