In today's world of restrictive school budgets and increasing property taxes, it is an unfortunate reality that many school districts will be faced with a budget crunch crisis that unenlightened school boards may try to solve by cutting or eliminating funds for music. At the crisis stage, it is often only the effective advocacy of an organized…

In recognition of Rudolf Friml's centenary (1879-1979), his career as a composer of operettas, musical comedies, and musical satires and as a concert pianist is reviewed. (KC)

Each of the major music cultures in West Asia--Turkey, Persia, and the Arab countries--has distinct rules of improvisation. Improvisation in each of these countries is described; a glossary is included; selected readings and recordings conclude the article. (KC)

Presented is the life and philosophy of Alice Parker, a teacher of musical composition, who is in great demand as a speaker on college campuses and who composes on commission for a wide variety of organizations. (KC)

Presented is an interpretive report of the Ann Arbor Symposium on the Applications of Psychology to the Teaching and Learning of Music, which brought together two disparate disciplines--music education and psychology. (KC)

Improvisation implies a relative freedom to choose elements within stylistic norms of rules proper to a given culture. Improvisatory processes for music from several cultures are described. These cultures are: Indian, Spanish, African, and Afro-Cuban (rumba). A few resources focusing on improvisation in Latin American music are presented. (KC)

A major concern of music educators is the place of music education in the curriculum. An important contribution to the establishment of music as basic to a student's education has come in the Rockefeller Panel Report, "Coming to Our Senses". Describes that report and its importance for music educators. (Author/RK)

These excerpts present some of the views of noted musician and music educator, Howard Hanson, on the purposes and goals of public school music education. (SJL)

The author believes that in an organization such as MENC (Music Educators National Conference), long range-planning is, in essence, long-range hoping, and suggests that it is time for MENC to undertake a reevaluation of the GO (Goals and Objectives) Project as it applies to a new decade. (Author/KC)

Seven educators express their opinions on the types of research and evaluation efforts currently needed in music education. (SJL)

Discusses some of the factors such as cultural attitudes, student expectations, and teaching methods that affect and impede the teaching of college-level courses in music appreciation. An alternative teaching approach, which presents ways composers have portrayed events in the human life cycle, is described. (AM)

The author of "A Philosophy of Music Education" is interviewed regarding his views on recent criticism of aesthetic education, trends in music education, the lag between theory and practice, and the philosophy of music education. (KC)

Offered are suggestions to teachers for introducing improvisation into the classroom. Improvisational activities include movement, vocal, and related arts projects. (KC)

This article was written for those who believed that commissioning music for the high school band was an impossible dream. Author described two successful high school commissioning programs, their benefits for the students involved, and how to approach a composer to seek a new work. (Editor/RK)

Literature on music preferences of older adults and music therapy for older adults is reviewed, and suggestions are made for making music more accessible to the older person. (KC)