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In my 1.25+ years of teaching I've had a few Muslim students and they have always been able to participate in music class. If you find out where they are coming from with this, let us know as it could be helpful in the future!

Thanks.

I haven't had this problem with Muslims, but have encountered it with Church of Christ and Jehovah's Witnesses.  I had some noise-canceling headphones if it was a huge problem, but for the most part just let them sit and read quietly.  I did not give any grades for those students, just an N/A or a W.  In this school we have a large JW population, and those kids actually have a special room they go to during music.

So, the decision is in -- accommodate the famiy's religion -- and it seems if the family can produce a document that states it is against their religion, they can be excused from music/mandated curriculum.  It seems from my research that this is common practice.  There is apparently some strands of Islam that are a bit more flexible, and others that are not.

Meanwhile, this has sparked so much discussion that we are going to have a speaker at our state (Massachusetts) music education conference.

Well, that is what is interesting and what I had never encountered before -- but it seems like some forms of Islam -- are what might be termed very orthodox or conservative and do support an interpretation of the Quoran that bans all practice of music, essentially.  Ours is not to argue the Quoran,

it's an internal and HUGE debate within ISLAM.  The opposition to music can be quite strong ideologically, so it's difficult to have a dialogue about.  My understanding is that in other places one has at times been able to strike a "compromise", such as going to music but not participating in performance, or just not doing music that relates in anyway to Christmas or other holidays.  Apparently,  some Islam finds that acceptable, but this particular branch has a more complete eschewing of the practice of music.  they can witness it, they just can not do it. (Dec 23, 2008 -- It now turns out that they can not attend concerts either.)

Joan Litman who works with music from Islamic countries or Muslim songs will be publishing a book "A caravan of Songs" which will have a great collection of children's songs, has written a very interesting introduction which discuses this issues and recommends ways to be sensitive and foster a better understanding, and build connections.  I highly recommend reading it when the book comes out, and getting the collection.  I also located another collections put out by IDEAS, I think -- of children's singing games collected in Dearborn, MI, where there is a huge Arabic and Muslim population. 

There is also a book, available on AMAZON, of (I think) traditional Egyptian music -- the cover is brown.  I am not sure of the exact title.  All for now, but if Joan Litman ever happnes to give a workshop n your area, GO!  She is quite knowledgable.  People in the NE Kodaly community are using some of her materials with great success.

Last edited by isis (2009-02-06 19:38:55)

http://store.aeideas.com/merchant.mvc?S … ry_Code=OI

There is not much on the web for Joan Litman --  but she does have a few songs and dances on the web.  I think we have to wait till her book is out.  She does present at Kodaly and other events.  I think she is "linked" as well. I think her book may be "pre-listed - can such a thing be possible?  Anyway, keep your eyes open!

The egyptian songs song have been easy to find -- http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?ur … &field

Last edited by isis (2009-01-18 07:57:15)

I taught in a middle school program a few years ago in NY where there were a couple of Muslim students in the general music class who were not allowed to participate (I taught band there so didn't have them.) I know the parents wanted the kids out of the class, but NY mandates music instruction. If I remember correctly the kids remained in the class, but did not participate.

Again, it 's a question of the "branch" of Islam or "interpretation"  --like Christianity's various interpretations of the bible.  Remember, the Puritans did not allow dancing and singing in church or elsewhere ( I think).  I have Muslim children who come to music with no problem and then i have these more "conservative" (for lack of a better term) muslim children.

Diane Harris wrote a very useful and readable article on this.  I think she was dealing with the British educational system, but much of what she has to say is still pertinent and it's an easy read:

I think she has written more on this as well -- search Amazon.com (?)

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:ewm … ent=safari

Last edited by isis (2009-01-18 15:10:18)

You are welcome.  Yes, apparently the debate is a deep one, and complex.  From what I have read, the word "music" means a specific kind of music to Islam, a kind that is often not acceptable, and that is why "sound arts" is recommended as a term to use.  Apparently "lullabies" is sometimes used as opposed to "music".

Also, Muslims "chant' and do not "sing" when praying.  These are cultural distinctions that are not necessarily our's -- kind of like the Inuit and their many words for 'snow'.