Lea Ashcraft, Timber Creek Elementary School’s music teacher, wanted to expand the musical opportunities students found in her classroom. She received a 2023 - 2024 LEF teacher grant to do just that through the implementation of her project, Hands-On Music Literacy.
"Hands-On Music Literacy is a project that seeks to grow Timber Creek students' music literacy, pitch recognition and rhythm identification using hands-on music tools such as a Music Staff rug, color-coded bells and xylopipes and rhythm Note Knack manipulatives,” Ashcraft explained in her grant application. “These tools will help students develop both melodic and rhythmic skills that are essential to growing musicians in elementary school.”
Ashcraft recognized the benefit of music education beyond simply fostering a love for music. She noted the manner in which music education elevates studies in core subjects.
“LISD music learning standards seek to help students grow in using cross-curricular learning,” Ashcraft said. “Students who build and grow music literacy skills at a young age have been proven to make neurological connections that aid in both reading and math skills. The brain sequencing that will be developed using the tools from the [music] project will directly correlate to the way students process information in general classroom courses.”
The tools purchased through Ashcraft’s LEF teacher grant aid in drawing connections between musical education and typical classroom content. Beyond the neurological patterns supporting literacy and math, Ashcraft’s music lessons directly correlated with certain topics in both science and math lessons.
“I can collaborate will classroom teachers who work with students in science units on sound and pitch in the 2nd grade elementary curriculum,” Ashcraft said. “Mathematical fractions are also addressed in the rhythm portion of music literacy and have crossover benefits to students seeking to improve math skills. Co-curricular units will help scaffold student learning in both of these areas.”
Hands on Music Literacy provides music education and reinforces core subjects. It also increases opportunities for students to develop meaningful life skills.
“Being part of a musical ensemble teaches students important life skills such as teamwork, self-confidence, experiential learning, gaining a sense of achievement, and increasing their listening skills,” Ashcraft said.
Ashcraft implemented her program in three phases to better scaffold a learning and understand of musical literacy in her students. Approximately 450 students at Timber Creek Elementary School engaged with the new materials in Ashcraft’s classroom through curriculum tailored to specific grade levels.
“The first phase of the project incorporated the music rug and games we were able to play with the rug. Pre through 2nd grade students focused on how notes get higher on both lines and spaces and 3rd-5th grades focused on learning the real names of the notes on each of the lines and spaces,” Ashcraft said. “The second phase incorporated using the desk bells and auditory skills alongside the felt note board and music rug to show how specific pitches and note names match up with lines and spaces on the music rug. Each grade level in Pre-K through 5th had the chance to learn several songs using the desk bells and read the notes they played on the color-coded felt board. The third phase involved students specifically identifying meter and rhythm patterns in music. Students were able to determine which meter their rhythm would be in and performed the rhythm they created using the note knacks.”
Learning musical literacy at a young age can open doors for future musical opportunities, providing students with both musical skills and the confidence necessary to take advantage of future opportunities.
"Hands-On Music Literacy will allow students to grow as musicians in music literacy at a pace that will create a more seamless vertical learning transition as students move up to middle school,” Ashcraft said. “Students who are confident, seasoned music readers and composers will be more prepared to hone and grow their skills at the next level of learning in middle school.”
Ashcraft’s project, made possible by those who support LEF teacher grants, provides students with numerous skills that will benefit them both inside the music classroom and in other settings. Students leave the classroom with increased musical skills, greater self-confidence, and a better understanding of core subjects as they relate to music.
