April 10, 2008

The University of Northern British Columbia will be offering a newprogram through its Continuing Studies department that will provideelementary school teachers with certification in music education. Thenew program is designed to offer teachers, regardless of their musicalbackground, the skills necessary to incorporate music into the regularelementary school curriculum.

“Music has long been recognized for its positive effects on thepersonal and education development of children, but few schools havemusic specialists,” says Randall Brazzoni, Director of UNBC ContinuingStudies. “In School District 57, only six of the District’s 40elementary schools have programs with a music specialist. The situationis similar across the northern BC. Providing this certificate programin the North will enable more teachers to gain this specialization.”

Courses will cover basic music theories; music’s ability to stimulateand increase childhood mental capacity; the relevance and applicationof music to the elementary school curriculum; and various musicconcepts and techniques for incorporating both vocal and instrumentalexercises into the classroom.

Coursework will be delivered over two summers with a practical term inbetween, lasting the duration of the academic year. Registrations arecurrently being accepted with a deadline of May 15th. Registration islimited to a maximum of twenty students. Classes will start in July.

Click here to register

Instructors will include Gerda Blok-Wilson and Carolyn Duerkson, bothmusic specialists within School District 57 and highly accomplishedchoral directors. The program has also attracted two nationallyrecognized music educators: Bernard Turgeon, a renowned Canadianbaritone, Neuro-Linguistic practitioner, and former faculty member atMcGill University, as well as Denise Gagne, a music specialist andfounder of Musicplay, a music education program adopted by schooldistricts internationally.

UNBC Continuing Studies offers more than 200 courses annually. Lastyear, more than 2,500 students registered for courses in ContinuingStudies.

Contact:
Kim Knutsson, Continuing Studies Coordinator, UNBC – 250.960.6443
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622