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Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Dumbing down the Curriculum


Music teachers are rebelling against changes to Western Australia's high school curriculum that do not require students to play an instrument and downgrade the importance of reading music.

The outcomes-based course shifts the emphasis from recitals and rehearsals to an ability to write about music from a sociological perspective.

Years 11 and 12 music students in Western Australia are currently required to submit a composition portfolio or sit a performance exam worth 50 per cent of their marks for the year - including scales, sight reading and a recital of five pieces.

But teachers who plan to protest today fear standards may plunge because the new course will no longer be attractive to students eager to master an instrument. They will be able to give presentations rather than performances.

Based upon this criteria my 5 year old and 7 year old would be star students.

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