In considering the audition as a barrier to an entry into both music and music education, the question of excellence emerges as an important site of reckoning. "Excellence" in a music school audition encompasses Western classical music, the ability to read notation, and knowledge and execution of Western classical technique. Auditions…

How can orchestra teachers diversify curricula to engage young musicians in project-based learning experiences that build their musicianship and confidence? This action research study explores how the author fostered project-based learning experiences that incorporated student reflection and assessment within chamber music ensembles. By…

Contemporary African-American classical composers Cedric Adderley, John Lane, and Trevor Weston intertwine strands of culture and individual experience to produce musical works whose distinct designs offer cultural resources that music educators can use to integrate diversity into instructional settings. Of special interest is their ability to…

Greater diversity and inclusivity in music curricula are goals that permeate discussions in education. Achieving these goals, however, is complex and presents inherent difficulties as music not only values tradition but also promotes the past. Many music traditions were exclusionary and unintentionally cultivated a culture in which many people…

This article offers information that will allow music educators to incorporate North Indian classical vocal music into a multicultural music education curriculum. Obstacles to teaching North Indian classical vocal music are acknowledged, including lack of familiarity with the cultural/structural elements and challenges in teaching ear training and…

There is a surprising lack of black and Latino musicians in major orchestras in the United States as well as in other venues for classical music. Similarly, many American high school performing ensembles reflect the same underrepresentation. This article examines the literature on race, socioeconomic factors, and urban teaching and provides…

In recent years, popular music has become a growing area of music study and is increasingly accepted in schools and universities around the world. Despite this general enthusiasm, classically trained music teachers bring a certain hesitation to this art form, perhaps because too few have had formal hands-on experience with it. This article…

Throughout the author's teaching career of the last thirty years, he has thought a great deal about how to prepare children for meaningful encounters with Western art music, a type of music that is not normally a part of their listening environments. (Many young people consider it music of the grey-haired generation.) The Western art music he was…

Halloween can be celebrated quite well with classical music. Music that relates, directly or indirectly, to fantasy, the supernatural, or the macabre is described. (RM)

The children's song cycle is a group of related songs composed for children, to be sung by adults. Although children's song cycles as a genre have never commanded such attention, these cycles are valuable educational tools that can serve as an introduction to classical music and art songs. (Author)

The author proposes that the entire history of Western, serious, classical music can be seen as a coherent, single development with a single evolving characteristic--that of aurally perceptible clarity and order. (Author/SJL)

Although they abandon traditional techniques and materials, today's radical composers may still be considered the logical continuation of Western classical tradition, for they retain the one thing most characteristic of Western music: self-conscious, intellectual, individualized craftsmanship. (Part of a theme issue on aspects of contemporary…

Supports the use of novels in music classes to activate student interest in an unfamiliar field. Shows how "Come Sing, Jimmy Jo" (K. Paterson), "Pennington's Seventeenth Summer" (K.M. Peyton), and "Jazz Country" (N. Hentoff) can enhance music learning because characters engage in aesthetic judgment, struggle with…

Presents a series of interesting and creative learning activities designed to enhance students understanding and appreciation of classical music. Although designed to work in conjunction with a CD-ROM, most of the electronic material (music selections, scores, brief biographies) is available in libraries. Learning activities include objectives and…

What music research can tell teachers about strategies to use to help students learn to like classical music is discussed. For example, research has shown that music teacher's verbal approval significantly increases students' listening to classical music. Also, choices of musical examples is critical. (RM)