This column provides background science information for elementary teachers. When the author was young he used to think that the ideal design for a concert hall would contain walls that were composed of sound-absorbing material, like foam or egg cartons or such. He noticed, though, that this was not the case. Most concert halls contain curtains…

Select features of interest to music educators are spotlighted in "Sibelius 6" (version 6.2.0 build 88) and presented under three headings: (a) Worksheets, (2) Plug-Ins, and (3) Potpourri. Guidance is given for accessing these features, and the commentary suggests their application in the music education classroom. (Contains 3 figures.)

Readily available software designed for the production of music can be adapted easily to the physics classroom. Programs such as Apple's GarageBand access large libraries of recorded sound waves that can be heard and displayed both before and after alterations. Tools such as real-time spectral analysers, digital effects, and audio file editors…

School librarians and educators have specific copyright questions that are often glossed over in larger books on the subject. Now, thanks to best-selling copyright authority Carrie Russell, there's a resource just for them, offering clear guidance for providing materials to students while carefully observing copyright law. Using whimsical…

Use of a microphone attached to a computer to capture musical sounds and software to display their waveforms and harmonic spectra has become somewhat commonplace. A recent article in "The Physics Teacher" aptly demonstrated the use of MacScope in just such a manner as a way to teach Fourier analysis. A logical continuation of this project is to…

Discusses how computer-generated music can be used as a starting point to explore the science of sound. Listings for programs which focus on pitch (including a pitch matching game), beat, and frequency are included. (JN)

Each month, "Curriculum Review" offers teachers mutual support, the sharing of ideas, and words of encouragement to help them face challenges in the classroom. The September 2004 issue of "Curriculum Review" contains the following articles: (1) "We Hear from Readers"; (2) "What They're Saying"; (3) "Surf These Web Sites"; (4) "Technology Update";…

Creative uses of Apple II microcomputers in classrooms are described. Projects involved topics ranging across the curriculum, with many involving writing and most using AppleWorks software. (MNS)

A music teacher used the Minnesota Educational Computing Corporation (MECC) study guide to implement a 10-week practicum intervention designed to increase sixth graders' retention of musical terminology. A total of 12 beginning band students used a computer-aided instruction program to review questions drawn from workbook materials they had…

"Chronicle of Higher Education" presents an abundant source of news and information for college and university faculty members and administrators. This January 28, 2005 issue of "Chronicle for Higher Education" includes the following articles: (1) "Wasting Money: A Failed Fund-Raising Trip Makes a Development Officer…