8.1MB - College of Education - Auburn University

C u r r i c u l u m a n d T e aching
M u s i c e d u c at i o n
Kuehne’s Beethoven-based project
hits high note with music society
“Beethoven & Me,” a music education
project designed for elementary students in Notasulga,
has introduced music instruction to the
students and has earned an award for its creator.
Dr. Jane Kuehne, an assistant professor in
the Department of Curriculum and Teaching,
received the 2010 Robby D. Gunstream Education
in Music Award for her efforts to build
the instrumental and compositional skills of
elementary school students in Notasulga.
N e w fac u lt y
Through Kuehne’s project,
“Beethoven & Me,” Auburn
University music education
students and Notasulga
third- and fourth-graders
work together to create music
using a method designed
by the late German composer, Carl Orff. The
Notasulga students compose the melodies, while
the Auburn students create the arrangements.
Kuehne, who initiated “Beethoven & Me”
in spring 2009, received a $1,000 cash prize for
meeting the College Music Society’s criteria of
creating “an imaginative and exemplary program
that furthers education in music through
engagement with local or area organizations.”
The award, presented each year to a university
faculty member or unit, enabled Kuehne to buy
additional mallet and rhythm instruments for
students.
Kuehne’s original project expanded last fall,
with Auburn music education and Notasulga
students collaborating on “Beethoven & Me:
Wolf Tales Live!” During a 6-week program,
students improvised on Orff instruments and
built their writing skills. They read stories
featuring a wolf as a primary character and
then constructed their own stories and musical
themes for characters covered in their readings.
The Auburn students created Orff-style
arrangements from the themes provided by the
elementary school students and then taught the
young musicians to play the music in preparation
for a concert that told their stories.
The “Beethoven & Me” concept has not only
provided a creative outlet for Notasulga students,
but has also provided valuable experience
for Auburn students who aspire to teach music.
Department welcomes back former
student in faculty role
Dr. Christal Pritchett, a 2004 College of
Education graduate, has returned to campus as a
faculty member in the Department of Curriculum
and Teaching.
Pritchett joined the faculty
in January as an assistant
professor of business education.
Pritchett earned her
doctorate from the college
in career technology
(business education). She
has previously taught both high school business
courses as well as college-level courses,
including classes at Southern State Community
College and Alabama A&M University, where
she was given the School of Business Researcher
of the Year Award for 2005-06. During her time
at A&M, she served as the university coordinator
and principal investigator for a pair of
research projects that received funding from the
Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies, making
A&M the only historically black college to
receive the grant for two consecutive terms.
She has written and contributed to several
refereed journals and produced a number of
presentations on the use of web and distance
learning technology in the classroom. She
served as president of the Delta Pi Epsilon
Honor Society from 2007-09 and was on the
auditing committee for the Alabama Business
Education Association from 2005-09.
K E Y N O T E S
Strutchens takes
AMTE office
Dr. Marilyn Strutchens,
Mildred C. Fraley distinguished
professor of mathematics
education, took office as the
president of the Association of
Mathematics Teacher Educators
(AMTE) in January 2011
at the organization’s annual
meeting in Irvine, Calif.
AMTE is the largest professional
organization devoted to
the improvement of mathematics
teacher education.
Strutchens will serve a 2-year
term as AMTE’s president.
Parr earns award
as top educator
Dr. Brian Parr has been
named the Outstanding Young
Agricultural Educator by the
American Association for
Agricultural Education.
The award recognizes the top
faculty members in the profession
who have served in the
field for less than seven years.
The highly competitive process
involves peer nomination
and evaluation by a selection
committee.
Parr was recognized during
the 108th Southern Association
of Agricultural Scientists
annual convention held in
Corpus Christi, Texas, in January
2011.
“Dr. Parr has provided a
wealth of contribution to
our profession over his short
career and represents what
we hope that all young faculty
members aspire to become,”
said Dr. Jason Peake, associate
professor in the University of
Georgia’s College of Agricultural
and Environmental
Sciences.
A K e y s t o n e i n B u i l d i n g a B e t t e r F u t u r e f o r A l l 37