What is Academic Language?

• the language of the discipline that students need to learn

and use to participate and engage in meaningful ways in
the content area
• the oral and written language used for academic
purposes
• the means by which students develop and express
content understandings
• the vocabulary, language functions, syntax and discourse
of the discipline-namely music
What Academic Language do we use in Teaching?
• Language function
THE MUSICAL VERBS
what are we asking students to do with the music?
Interpret Listening/Evaluating Analyze
Compare/Contrast Perform Describe/Express
Create Identify & Explain

• Additional Language Demands

• Vocabulary
• Syntax OR Discourse
Symbols, conventions teaching the language of the discipline

• Language Supports
 What academic language do we
use?

Vocabulary in music
Melody
Harmony Genre
Timbre Rhythm
Dynamics Meter
Texture Form
Articulation
Syntax
 When you are working in iconic or symbolic
mode, you are likely using syntax in some way.
 Syntax is the specific language that we use in
music:
 Notation, dynamic markings, key signatures,
rhythms, staff, etc.
Discourse
 Ifyou are asking students to describe the music,
no matter what concept they are using, that
becomes discourse.
 Children can often use discourse before they can
use Syntax. Why? Having the correct terms to
label something is a higher developmental step
than using words you know to describe it.