PK-12 General Music RI Newsletter
Rhode Island Music Education Association
May 2023
The Golden Box - by Lori M. Jones
One of my professors in grad school, Dr. Sandra Doneski, jokingly referred to the concept of curriculum as the “golden box”. She described her experience as a first year teacher, walking into her new school and asking where the curriculum was kept. She painted a comical picture of her younger self pulling a huge binder down from the top shelf of the closet…and blowing the dust off its pages!
This opened up an enjoyable conversation on our first day of Curriculum Development in which each of the teachers in my cohort expressed their own misunderstanding around the concept of curriculum and the frustrations that have often arisen when a sequenced system of instruction seemed to be missing, interrupted or not connected from year to year in their school or district.
Prior to my master’s studies, I had begun to view curriculum through a somewhat jaded eye. Rather than viewing that binder on my shelf as “the golden box”, I saw it instead as one resource among many. General music teachers face a unique challenge because there are so many approaches, methods, philosophies and theories to wade through. Orff, Kodaly, Dalcroze, Gordon, Feierabend, Suzuki, Carabo-Cone…the list goes on.
I fell into what I now believe is a common trap—I picked a little of this and a little of that. I leafed through the books on my shelves for new content (songs, games and activities) but I rarely questioned my process. If I went to a PD that featured a great idea I put it straight into my lesson for the following week, without too much consideration for the larger context from which it came. This seemed to work for a time. My students enjoyed their music classes, loved singing and seemed to be building useful musical skills. And then, right about the same time I started grad school, my administrator gave me her blessing on starting a middle school band program.
Suddenly, the curriculum discussion was more relevant than ever! Since my school is a K-8 charter, I had no one to blame but myself when my middle school band students struggled to play in triple meter or improvise a two-measure pattern in concert B-flat successfully. I realized that though we may have the freedom to pick and choose, most curriculums are designed to work best when they are followed consistently and sequentially.
This year, under the leadership of Carolyn Bennett, RIDE is developing a curriculum framework for Rhode Island arts education. This framework will help RI music teachers (along with those teaching in the other arts areas) create their courses of study with a fuller understanding of the Core Arts Standards and a vision for making those goals a reality in their classrooms. In response to this very necessary endeavor, discussion around the topic of curriculum seems to be timely.
Would you be interested in joining this conversation? I hope to do a larger piece for the RIMER in which I feature testimonials from GM teachers on the curriculums they are using and why they believe those choices are the right ones for their students. If you would be interested in participating, please reach out to lorijones73@gmail.com. Let’s open the “golden box” together!
Lori is a K-8 music teacher at The Compass School of RI and a music education adjunct at URI
Arts Curriculum Framework
In alignment with requirements of Rhode Island General Law (RIGL) § 16-22-31, RIDE has developed curriculum frameworks to provide guidance on implementation of the standards. Modeled after published curriculum frameworks in ELA, Science, and Math, the Arts curriculum framework will help all stakeholders understand the National Core Arts Standards and envision how they can be used to support a comprehensive, high-quality arts curriculum.
RIDE is seeking input from a diverse group of stakeholders at inflection points throughout the development process, starting with a vision for student success in the arts.
Interested stakeholders and organizations can direct questions to Carolyn.Bennett@ride.ri.gov
Educator Spotlight - Maria Di Nitto - Tiogue and Western Coventry Elementary Schools
I am a graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Music Education. After teaching music education and chorus from grades K-8 for one year at St. Phillip’s School in Greenville, RI. I joined the Coventry Public School System in 2000. For the last 23 years I have had the honor of teaching chorus and band in various elementary schools and secondary level (Flat River Middle School, chorus & band) to conducting a high school graduation at Coventry High School.
My instruments of choice are the piano and flute. I have performed in many churches and nursing homes throughout the State of Rhode Island, musical plays under the direction of the late Mr. Jack Higby, and for The Providence Civic Orchestra under the direction of the late, Mr. Vito Saratelli. Currently, I play piano and flute with the Lafayette Band of North Kingstown as well as serving as a board member for the organization.
I furthered my education by returning to The University of Rhode Island and received my M.M.
degree in music education. During that time, I also pursued a law degree from Novus Law
School in 2015 and from The Roger Williams University, School of Law in 2018. After seeing
students from many adverse backgrounds struggling to learn and to cope with our society, I enjoy opening children’s minds to the many possibilities of their future. I now specialize in music education and in family law (Mediation) to be an advocate for all children in every setting. Music is a very powerful tool. I am grateful to share my talents and skills with all my
colleagues, friends and RIMEA for their grateful support in my endeavors.
GM Song Share
Colt State Park - 2:00 pm (weather permitting)
Bring an instrument and some of your favorite songs from the school year! Let's share some music in this informal jam session!
To view the lists, visit:
tinyurl.com/generalmusicplaylists
Upcoming Area Workshops and Events
RIMEA General Music Council
General Music Council Mission: The establishment and mission of the RIMEA General Music Council is to strengthen general music education in Rhode Island by…
Advocating for the value of building a strong foundation in students in pre-K through 12th grades.
Connecting general music teachers to resources and each other, fostering a network of support.
Promoting cultural diversity, inclusion, and engagement in music and our general music community.
Celebrating general music teachers and raising the quality of music instruction.
Email: sjohnson@rimea.org
Website: rimea.org/gm
Location: 667 Waterman Avenue, East Providence, RI, USA
Phone: 401-248-7080
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Twitter: @RIMEAorg