Welcome to the Program of Music and Music Education
Website: http://www.tc.columbia.edu/centers/cal/
The Creative Arts Laboratory (CAL) was established at Teachers College in 1994 as a result of a three-year grant from the US Department of Education: Fund for Innovative Education. CAL's purpose is to change school cultures by preparing teachers of economically disadvantaged and educationally challenged students to integrate the arts into core curriculums of public elementary and middle schools in New York City.
As a professional development model, CAL is based on the premise that integrating the arts into the school curriculum facilitates teachers' capacities to help students make connections across subject matter areas. CAL believes that critical thinking skills and positive attitudes about learning enhance students' repertoires of problem-solving abilities. These problem-solving abilities provide the impetus for students to formulate their own ideas and to engage in meaning-making activities from the perspectives of the arts, (dance, drama, music, and visual arts), in conjuntion with core academic disciplines, (eg, math, science, language arts, and social studies).
After three years of federal funding, and three years of NYC Board of Education Funding, we are confident that CAL is meeting its objectives for teachers and children. Participating CAL teachers report CAL experiences have dramatically increased :
Doctoral Cohort Program - The Doctoral Cohort Program is a unique offering designed for music faculty members holding full-time academic appointments who are interested in completing a doctoral program. Participants have an opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree over the course of several summers.
Early Childhood Music Education - Teachers College Program in Music and Music Education offers a concentration in Early Childhood Music Education, developed by Dr. Lori Custodero, in the field of early childhood research. Students involved in this course work may be invited to work with Dr. Custodero at the Rita Gold Early Childhood Center, a teaching and research facility located on TC campus.