Strings teaching and learning has tended to emphasize performance rather than the quality of experience for the children. School instruction has become rigid and focused on technical accuracy. Alternative teaching strategies must be pursued in order to provide a challenging yet enjoyable experience of playing and learning the bowed string…

Within a theoretical framework drawn from sociologists of education Bourdieu and Bernstein, this paper will examine some of the findings of an ethnographic case study conducted with a secondary school music teacher and one class of her pupils in Wales. This teacher attracted 25% of Year 10 (14-year-old) pupils to study music as an optional subject…

Learning related to music is considered a developmental process in this collection of five articles on music education for young learners. The first article considers music in terms of the educational process and the nature of art. The importance of musical concepts and structures to understanding music is emphasized, as is the role of music in…

Discusses the characteristics of a good vibrato in musical performance. Reviews four types of vibrato used by woodwind performers: (1) diaphragmatic/abdominal vibrato; (2) jaw vibrato; (3) throat vibrato; and (4) lip vibrato. Includes two charts with suggestions for teaching diaphragmatic vibrato and jaw vibrato. (CFR)

Suggests that the bias linking guitars to popular culture has needlessly limited approaches to teaching guitar. Examines how each of five current programs develops different music skills. Advocates a comprehensive, multifaceted program capable of emphasizing student skills in melody, harmony, perception, creativity, and performance over six years…

This Virginia framework for music instruction in kindergarten through 12th grade established objectives designed to develop concepts and skills, to encourage positive attitudes toward music as an art form, and to value music's role in daily life. The objectives are organized by grades and by choral and instrumental music experience. Sequential…

A middle school student helper teacher program based on some cooperative learning tenants provided alternative instruction to sixth grade instrumental students in music lessons that would have been severely curtailed due to budget reductions and increasing enrollment. Students were grouped on like instruments and divided into subgroups by ability.…