This unit reinforces the use of appropriate vocabulary to describe a variety of music, ties in current
technology in music, and demonstrates the crossover of modes of thinking between disciplines.
Students incorporate higher order thinking skills to discriminate and synthesize information when
creating their challenge. Amazingly, my middle school students stay engaged as the variety of music
allows them to keep one foot in what they know while still exploring new sounds. I’ve found that when I
allow students to discover their own examples they go far beyond what I know and I end up adding to
my musical knowledge. Most importantly, students begin to see how music, technology, and science
naturally blend together and apply to their daily lives.
Malinda W. Essex, Ph.D., received her degrees in music education from The Ohio State University. She has 25
years teaching experience in K-12 public schools and higher education and recently returned to teaching
middle school after discovering her true passion of curriculum development and teaching. Malinda currently
teaches an interdisciplinary course called Music+STEM at Mount Vernon Middle School in Ohio. She has
presented at the local, state, and national levels on topics including Secondary General Music Curriculum,
Reading in the Content Areas, and Assessing Beyond Performance.
STEAMed Magazine
10
July 2016 Edition