What follows is an outline of a suggested Waldorf music curriculum,
grades 1-8. It comes out my own extensive study of
anthroposophy,
Rudolf Steiner’s indications, both in child development and
music, and many years of teaching experience. It is a
curriculum
developed in my own school, with its own special needs and parameters
and does not necessarily represent every Waldorf music
curriculum. One will find as many different configurations in
Waldorf school music programs as there are schools and teachers
carrying out the programs. There are some fundamental
qualities,
however, that characterize a healthy music curriculum as relates to the
picture of soul development as indicated by Rudolf Steiner, out of
which Waldorf education comes.
Every school has its own unique set of circumstances; budgets,
personnel, physical facilities, age of the school, etc. all have their
influence in the actual manifestation of the program. Having
said
that, there is also an effort underway to explore and develop more
consciousness in the context of a Waldorf music curriculum. An
association of Waldorf music teachers (ANAWME – Association
of
North American Waldorf Music Educators) has formed and meets at annual
summer conferences to study, discuss and learn more about what the
nature of Waldorf music really means and how we can bring it forward in
our teaching. It is also committed to supporting the research and
development of new anthroposophical music impulses, ideas and
instrumentarium.
I would like to acknowledge a few very important teachers from whom I
have learned a great deal, and who have led me to further research and
experimentation in this area of Waldorf music education. I want to
thank Pär Ahlbom (Sweden), Peter-Michel Riehm (Germany) and
Michael Deason-Barrow (England), for the experiences and knowledge that
they have shared with me, both through their writings, compositions and
in various scholarly settings.
The following offering is part of a work that will hopefully be
developed further as a larger published work or book, and any
reproduction or use of this material is not permitted without express
written permission by the author.
