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Abstract

This article builds on evidence-based teaching strategies to support a learning experience for third-grade students that integrates language and music. In the language-learning field, “prosody” refers to changes in volume, rhythm, and pitch that add expression and meaning when reading text aloud. When students incorporate prosodic elements into reading, their comprehension of the text is enhanced. In the field of music learning, invented notation allows young music learners to bypass the complexity of traditional notation to authentically express music ideas in a way that is accessible to peers, parents, and teachers. The learning experience described invites learners to use invented notation to represent music nuances within spoken language (prosody). Learners develop their capacity to expressively read aloud while broadening their understanding of composing and the music elements of volume, rhythm, and pitch. An illustrative sample lesson is provided.

Keywords

composing integration invented notation literacy prosody reading fluency spoken-word performance

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Integrating Music and Literacy: Applying Invented Music Notation to Support Prosody and Reading Fluency

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