World Music Pedagogy in Practice: Part 1 – Learning Irish Traditional Music

Ireland’s music is at times energetic and spirited, and other times pensive and even plaintive, depending upon the occasion. It is linked to the heritage of many North Americans, both in the United States and Canada, who trace their family histories to Ireland, and it is both centuries old and newly composed, as is the composition by Francis Ward, “Planxty Sarsfield.” The music is captivating for cultural insiders as well as for first-timers to the sound of its melodies, rhythms, and timbres. It is a fitting choice for students of various age and experience levels, due to its accessibility, singability, limited rhythmic palette, and the meaningful sociocultural messages of displacement and musical resilience that it communicates. Through the application of the five dimensions of World Music Pedagogy, this planxty is made even more suitable for teaching music and culture to students from middle childhood through secondary school.