MUSE Youth Curriculum
Music Uniting Students and Elders
Music is a language that is understood across all
culturally-created boundaries. Music has the ability
to lift spirits, lessen pain, and unite the worst
of enemies. The MUSE program unites
musicians from the Bangor Symphony Orchestra and
the elderly in residential facilities in Penobscot
and Piscataquis counties in Maine . MUSE further
provides the opportunity for local youth to participate
in these events through their schools and other programs.
These events help breakdown the boundaries across
the ages, dispel the myths of aging, teach the wonders
of music, and most of all provide an unforgettably
wonderful time!
For
too long elders have been segregated into isolated,
self-contained homes and pushed out of the main stream
of society. New ways to integrate young and old are
needed to re-establish continuity and connectedness
to our communities. For some who are unable to leave
their residences to participate in community life,
this program will provide an opportunity to not only
enjoy a cultural event, but also have the experience
enriched by sharing it with young people. Conversely,
students will benefit from the intellectual and emotional
development provided by arts education and the opportunity
to have meaningful shared experiences with elders.
PURPOSE:
The
following curriculum is recommended for children
5 years of age and older or children in 1 st - 5
th grade. The purpose of the curriculum is to act
as a catalyst for discussing aging, to dispel the
myths of aging, to provide an opportunity to connect
generations, and for youth to share with others their
experiences, ancestry and family traditions. Furthermore,
this curriculum allows for youth to connect with
elders in their community. The participants will
have the opportunity to learn personal history and
visit with an elder who may not have family near
by. This activity is a form of community service
and can instill the importance and the value of volunteerism
and social capital. Lastly, one may find a friend
for life.
BE PREPARED:
The presentation of this material may induce strong
emotions from the participants as discussions of
aging, sickness, and death, may arise. We recommend
that you notify your school counselor of your participation
in this program prior to program commencement in
case of a child's need for further support. It may
be appropriate to invite your school counselor to
attend class during the days that this curriculum
is covered in order to aid in discussion facilitation
and student support.
GETTING STARTED:
1) Choose
a book from the book
list.
2) Select a series of days to
host the MUSE curriculum that has
close proximity to a scheduled MUSE event.
3) Contact
the MUSE coordinator
in order to finalize event dates and times. Allow
at least 1 hour per MUSE curriculum
day. One the days which a MUSE event occurs, please
allow 3 hours.
4) Begin Curriculum.
NOTE: Curriculum is not restricted
to consecutive days. However, it is recommended for
consistency and an optimum learning environment to
host each MUSE curriculum day within a few days of
the last. Day 5 of the curriculum is on-going and
not necessarily one that occurs a few days after
Day 4 of the curriculum.
Day 1
-
Read book out loud to group
-
Discuss
book and concepts introduced in the
book using the questions that accompany the
book as a guide.
-
Assign
homework. Suggested homework projects accompany
the questions for each book.
Day
2
Day
3
-
Attend
a MUSE event
-
Students
and faculty are recommended to socialize with
elders at the facility as well as the musicians
-
Return
to classroom and discuss the event
-
Youth
and faculty to complete event evaluations
Day 4
• Establish
an E-Pal connection with the elder facility
(E-pals
is similar to pen-pals except the communication
is primarily done through e-mail. Each group
of students participating in the MUSE youth curriculum
will e-mail a group of residents at the facility
where they attended the MUSE event. This communication
will continue back and forth until it no longer
is satisfying for both parties. We recommend
that e-pal communication occur at least at least
once a week. Please set up the e-pal program
with the Activity Director at the facility that
you visit for MUSE immediately following the
event. The youth can e-mail the older adults
as soon as they return to school so that the
friendship connections are still fresh. You may
need to set up a new e-mail account within your
school just for this purpose.)
• Once/week email elder facility
as a class
Day
5
-
Visit elder facility for a
second MUSE event
-
Youth
and faculty to complete event evaluations
-
Continue
E-Pal connection with elder facility
