Calgary draws score for music curriculum

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A small group of visionaries in Calgary has started to collaborate on a new project - to design an Aboriginal music curriculum for schools.

The idea was first conceived two years ago between Elsie Wuttunee from the separate school board and Dr. Vivian Ayoungman from the University of Calgary. Representatives from the Native Education Department of the Calgary Catholic School District and Treaty 7 members completed the group.

"Music is an expression of feelings and a giver of life," explained Wuttunee.

The seed of this idea sparked the interest of those people in the Aboriginal community already involved in music, to establish a steering committee comprised of Elders, dancers, drummers, and singers to work towards developing a music curriculum.

"Music is common to all people. It is a link between people and people share their cultural and spiritual uniqueness through their music," said Wuttunee.

One of the objectives of the committee is to emphasize the inter-connectedness of different curricula already taught in schools and how it can join with the teaching of Aboriginal musical.

The broad spectrum of music can be used as a tool to incorporate many of the subjects already a part of the curriculum, Wuttunee explained.

"An example might be the design and decoration of musical instruments which uses both math and science,"she said. "This project could expand to include dream, dance, literature, and social studies, broadening knowledge to all students in their classroom," she added.

Native education is embraced in some Calgary separate schools and Aboriginal music programs have been established in the United States.

But the Calgary steering committee intends to design their own distinct curriculum while referring to those resources.

The committee intends to focus on their own regional, tribal historical and cultural similarities, differences, uniqueness, trends and transitions.

The program will also focus on, and develop an appreciation of the Aboriginal culture by other groups through the study of Aboriginal music.

Committee members hope the curriculum will encourage students to study music in a familiar milieu and transfer this appreciation into other forms.