Morris Inquiry Project 1

QUESTIONS 

1. Why is it important for elementary schoolers to learn general music at their age? 

2. What is considered to be “general music” and how do we as music educators go along teaching 

it? 

3. How would you create a curriculum for a general music class that’s both engaging and 

educational for elementary schoolers? 

4. What is the main goal to have when teaching elementary schoolers a general music class? And 

with that main goal in mind, why is it the main goal? 

5. Depending on the type of area you might live in (rural, urban, etc.), what can you do like their 

general music educator to encourage their communities with music? 

6. Everyone has different views and takes on what general music is to them. If you were to teach 

general music to a class of elementary schoolers, what would you teach them the most about 

and why? 

7. General music can combine both vocal and instrumental techniques within the class along with 

general vocabulary for music. As the instructor for this class, would you emphasize one thing 

over the other? If so, why would it be best to do so? 

8. Some general music educators leave some important things about music out of their curriculum 

and lesson plans (expression, emotion, etc.). Why do think this is wrong to do and how would 

you be able to fix this issue? 

9. According to Forbes Magazine, students intend to do better within Science, Math, and English if 

they participate in any music classes. As a music educator, why do you think that is for 

students? 

10. Music can sometimes be heard from people who’ve taken music classes that it can be like 

learning another language. For a general music class for elementary schoolers, why do you 

think this isn’t something we should view general music as for that age? 

   
Morris Inquiry Project 2

PROPOSAL 

Research Question: What is the purpose of general music in elementary schools? 

Rationale: Music is very important to all of us. Whether we as human beings see it or not, it connects us 

together to create not only harmony to our planet but many other things. And those things can vary from 

person to person based on how they interpret music to themselves. To grasp from the audience a sense 

of emotion that they just can’t hold back to releasing something from within that has been bothering 

them from time to time. To dance and sing along because of how the melodies and rhythms can make 

your body feel and you just want to naturally let it flow through the moment to analyzing why a specific 

song is played within a certain progression. These are just some of the things why people appreciate 

music for the way it is, and that is so important. With this in mind, by looking at a broader picture, what 

is the purpose of having general music in the first place? Why is it so crucial to have general music 

within the classroom especially? For this inquiry project, I hope to research why it is so important for 

students, elementary schoolers especially, to have general music within their classroom through 

pedagogical approaches, content, and differences in experiences. It is really valuable to learn about 

music at a young age because to me as you are younger, your brain is growing little by little every day 

allowing for more creative information to cognitively expand within. To me, everyone is entitled to have 

their own opinions about things they stand upn or against in life, but for music, I think everyone should 

agree with me that having general music starting from a very young age is crucial to have within one’s 

education. 

   
Morris Inquiry Project 3

Article 1​ ​(AuthorLastName, Year) 

APA Citation information​:  

Authors, I. N., Last, I. T., & Names, A. L. (Year Published). Journal article name Notice the capitalization. 

Journal Name With This Capitalization and Italics​, ​Volume#​(Issue#), FirstPage-LastPage. 

Authors, I., & Name, N. (Year Published). Book chapter article: Notice the capitalization. In E. D. Editor & D. 

E. Names (Eds.), T
​ itle of the book with correct capitalization​ (FirstPage-LastPage). Publisher’s 

City, State/Country: Publisher’s Name.  

Purpose of the Study: 

Methods and Participants: 

Key Findings: 

Discussion Points: 

Your Comments/Questions:   
Morris Inquiry Project 4

Article 2​ ​(AuthorLastName, Year) 

APA Citation information​:  

Authors, I. N., Last, I. T., & Names, A. L. (Year Published). Journal article name Notice the capitalization. 

Journal Name With This Capitalization and Italics​, ​Volume#​(Issue#), FirstPage-LastPage. 

Authors, I., & Name, N. (Year Published). Book chapter article: Notice the capitalization. In E. D. Editor & D. 

E. Names (Eds.), T
​ itle of the book with correct capitalization​ (FirstPage-LastPage). Publisher’s 

City, State/Country: Publisher’s Name.  

Purpose of the Study: 

Methods and Participants: 

Key Findings: 

Discussion Points: 

Your Comments/Questions: 

   
Morris Inquiry Project 5

Article 3​ ​(AuthorLastName, Year) 

APA Citation information​:  

Authors, I. N., Last, I. T., & Names, A. L. (Year Published). Journal article name Notice the capitalization. 

Journal Name With This Capitalization and Italics​, ​Volume#​(Issue#), FirstPage-LastPage. 

Authors, I., & Name, N. (Year Published). Book chapter article: Notice the capitalization. In E. D. Editor & D. 

E. Names (Eds.), T
​ itle of the book with correct capitalization​ (FirstPage-LastPage). Publisher’s 

City, State/Country: Publisher’s Name.  

Purpose of the Study: 

Methods and Participants: 

Key Findings: 

Discussion Points: 

Your Comments/Questions: 

   
Morris Inquiry Project 6

Article 4​ ​(AuthorLastName, Year) 

APA Citation information​:  

Authors, I. N., Last, I. T., & Names, A. L. (Year Published). Journal article name Notice the capitalization. 

Journal Name With This Capitalization and Italics​, ​Volume#​(Issue#), FirstPage-LastPage. 

Authors, I., & Name, N. (Year Published). Book chapter article: Notice the capitalization. In E. D. Editor & D. 

E. Names (Eds.), T
​ itle of the book with correct capitalization​ (FirstPage-LastPage). Publisher’s 

City, State/Country: Publisher’s Name.  

Purpose of the Study: 

Methods and Participants: 

Key Findings: 

Discussion Points: 

Your Comments/Questions: 

   
Morris Inquiry Project 7

Article 5​ ​(AuthorLastName, Year) 

APA Citation information​:  

Authors, I. N., Last, I. T., & Names, A. L. (Year Published). Journal article name Notice the capitalization. 

Journal Name With This Capitalization and Italics​, ​Volume#​(Issue#), FirstPage-LastPage. 

Authors, I., & Name, N. (Year Published). Book chapter article: Notice the capitalization. In E. D. Editor & D. 

E. Names (Eds.), T
​ itle of the book with correct capitalization​ (FirstPage-LastPage). Publisher’s 

City, State/Country: Publisher’s Name.  

Purpose of the Study: 

Methods and Participants: 

Key Findings: 

Discussion Points: 

Your Comments/Questions: 

   
Morris Inquiry Project 8

Article 6​ ​(AuthorLastName, Year) 

APA Citation information​:  

Authors, I. N., Last, I. T., & Names, A. L. (Year Published). Journal article name Notice the capitalization. 

Journal Name With This Capitalization and Italics​, ​Volume#​(Issue#), FirstPage-LastPage. 

Authors, I., & Name, N. (Year Published). Book chapter article: Notice the capitalization. In E. D. Editor & D. 

E. Names (Eds.), T
​ itle of the book with correct capitalization​ (FirstPage-LastPage). Publisher’s 

City, State/Country: Publisher’s Name.  

Purpose of the Study: 

Methods and Participants: 

Key Findings: 

Discussion Points: 

Your Comments/Questions: 

   
Morris Inquiry Project 9

Themes in the Literature​: 

● Theme 1: Name and Explain 

○ (Author, Year) 

○ (Author & Author, Year) 

● Theme 2: Name and Explain 

○ (Author, Year) 

○ (Author & Author, Year) 

● Theme 3: Name and Explain 

○ (Author, Year) 

○ (Author & Author, Year) 

● Theme 4: Name and Explain 

○ (Author, Year) 

○ (Author & Author, Year) 

● Theme 5: Name and Explain 

○ (Author, Year) 

○ (Author & Author, Year)