Culturally Responsive Teaching in a High School Percussion Ensemble

Culturally Responsive Teaching in a High School Percussion Ensemble: Validating Immigrant Identities addresses themes of immigration, identity, and culturally responsive teaching in music education using a deep case study of Brazilian samba music in the context of a high school percussion ensemble.Through an in-depth ethnographic study of the World Percussion Ensemble at Somerville High School, Massachusetts, and how it was renovated by a progressive music program director, the author demonstrates how a program can respond to the cultures and needs of immigrant students by creating a unique intercultural community within the classroom. The book recognizes key components in the process of immigrant social integration: (1) music education can help facilitate immigrant students’ adjustment to a new culture as they negotiate a hybrid identity. (2) The inclusive nature of samba percussion music encourages communication, cooperation, and empathy, helping students to build life skills. (3) By blending rhythms from their countries of origin with a pop song of choice for their final composition, the students create their own interculture.Deriving from culturally responsive music teaching practices, this study will inspire music teachers and music education researchers to transfer some of the methods to center students’ languages, identities, and cultural references in their curricula.

Christiana Athena-Blackwell is a music educator, ethnomusicologist, songwriter, and performer. Her research centers on themes of identity expression through music, and music of the African Diaspora in the Americas. Currently, she teaches music in Central Vermont, USA. She has an MA in Ethnomusicology from Tufts University and a PhD in Music Education from the Pennsylvania State University.