Songwriting and the 6th Grader: A Creative Endeavor for Enhanced Student Engagement in 6th Grade General Music

Students from two sixth-grade general music classes provided the base for exploring the question of whether a collaborative, project-based, songwriting curriculum unit might enhance the engagement of learners in the general music classroom. A seven-week Songwriter’s Workshop unit plan, developed by the teacher/researcher, was implemented and evaluated for its effectiveness. Quantitative and qualitative data gathered through pre- and post-project student surveys, along with teacher observations and anecdotal data based on student work indicates this type of curriculum can indeed increase engagement in the classroom. Recommendations for future implementations are included by the author/teacher/researcher.