e-Orch Teaching Manual: Curriculum and Resources

INTRODUCTION
Music is a part of our universal human birthright. This is not limited to passive
listening and appreciation, but also extends to music-making itself. New
Zealand musicologist Christopher Small introduced the idea of “musicking”
in 1998 which emphasized that “Music is not a thing at all but an activity,
something that people do”. Inspired by Small, e-Orch makes use of musiking
as its teaching philosophy: to take part in music by performing, appraising,
rehearsing, practicing, or composing. Going beyond music appreciation with
active participation in music-making is one of the keys to music teaching and
learning.
The e-Orch strategy is grounded on learner-centred approaches, which include
appraising, performing and composing to enable students to experience the
whole cycle of music-making. By embedding music technology in the project
e-Orch, it allows students to actively participate in music. The project aims
to lower the barriers of music-making, as well as to introduce a broad set of
knowledge and skills, attributes and values to all participants regardless of
their music background – to produce Music for All.
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