The effects of a specially-devised, integrated curriculum, based on the music of Sting, on the learning of popular music

  • Neal Winter

Western Sydney University thesis: Doctoral thesis

Abstract

In order to evaluate the effects of an integrated curriculum on the learning of popular music, the Sting Curriculum was designed for senior secondary students of mixed ability. This nine week program was presented to a sample of 124 students aged between 16 and 18 years in urban Sydney (Australia).The results of tests conducted indicate that students in the sample achieved high scores when a greater emphasis was placed on performance than on the listening and composition activities. The principal findings of the study suggest that the Sting Curriculum was successful as a vehicle for learning popular music, providing students with an integrated and sequential program that motivated participants to become immersed in the music. Furthermore, in the context of an integrated curriculum, popular music learning was enhanced when teachers utilised a pedgogical approach which emphasised the performance activity.
Date of Award2002
Original languageEnglish

Keywords

  • Sting (musician)
  • popular music
  • study and teaching (secondary)
  • curriculum evaluation
  • New South Wales

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