The creative music strategy is a dynamic and flexible seven-step model for guiding general music students through the music concepts of improvisation and composition, followed by critical reflection. These are musical behaviors that cultivate the development of our students' deeper conceptual understandings and music independence by helping them…

Offers a means for slowly integrating assessment with the elementary music classroom instead of attempting a "whole program" conversion. Addresses how to get started, standards of achievement, how to record the assessment information, how to inform students and adults, and how teachers can review and revise their work. (CMK)

Addresses the importance of preserving the integrity of music education when it is part of an interdisciplinary curriculum. Discusses how to connect different disciplines in the curriculum, while still preserving the content of music education. Presents three descriptions of how this can be achieved. (CMK)

Relates the founding of the Wisconsin Comprehensive Musicianship through Performance (CMP) Project and addresses comprehensive musicianship. Describes the five parts (selection, outcomes, strategies, analysis, and assessment) of the Wisconsin CMP model. Provides an example of how the model works for a specific composition. (CMK)