As music educators, we always teach much more than the musical concepts and skills outlined in music curriculum standards. In this article, we discuss how music teachers can address what we believe is the most pressing issue of our time: environmental degradation. We first outline some specifics of ecological literacy in music education. This will…

The integration of music and science is embodied in the music of the spheres, the ancient concept that the universe is ordered in a manner consistent with principles of musical harmony. This idea boasts a long history, from the teachings of Pythagoras (ca. 600 BC) through Isaac Newton in the eighteenth century, and makes a fascinating…

Polyphony, often used to describe a type of composition in early European music, is also practiced in other parts of the world, not only for aesthetic enjoyment but also to strengthen a society's cohesiveness. Examples of such musical traditions are found in sub-Saharan Africa and many mountainous regions of Europe, where group singing or…

Conventional music learning in schools could benefit from the study of the music from films, television, and video games. This article offers practical applications for including film music as an outlet for analysis, an interdisciplinary compositional art form, a viable teaching tool, and an authentic performance/production experience. Music…

International-mindedness is defined in many different ways in education discourse. Some of the definitions include the ability to be open-minded and respectful of cultures and peoples or having an awareness of the interconnectedness of people not only intellectually but also with growing empathy. Do music educators have any role in helping…

Choral directors will always be assessed by the quality of their choral performances. The concepts presented in this article are designed to strengthen and improve choral performance. If choral directors can design an individualized assessment plan and implement some of these ideas during each grading period, grades will be more equitably…

Music educators are part of a team charged with nurturing the development of the whole child. This includes instilling in students cognitive keys to essential life values that will be drawn on through adulthood. To help music educators attain this goal, this article encourages the inclusion of contexualized music units--immersive studies of…

Classroom and arts educators frequently collaborate in the pursuit of common educational goals. Examples of sophisticated interdisciplinary teaching can be found in nearly every classroom, as when teachers use music to provide context for social movements, dancers to demonstrate various types of movement, or paintings to illustrate proportion.…

In this article, the author connects art and music to help others understand and value the relationship of these two disciplines. When working on a painting, or with other visual media, it is important to apply artistic elements and incorporate carefully considered design principles. This also applies in music and is especially apparent when a…

Every new teacher soon realizes the importance of principals, those often put-upon school leaders who play a key role in determining the direction and quality of education in their buildings. In this article, the author focuses on differently spelled but equally important "principles"--the kind that guide one's decision making. While principals…

The opportunity for individualized instruction in the college studio allows the studio teacher to be a strong influence on the development of music students. The private studio can be an arena for standards implementation, bringing all aspects of a comprehensive music education to fruition. The college studio teacher is often the only teacher who…

Hushed melodies have been known to lull infants to sleep; preschoolers can memorize the alphabet through song; marching bands arouse patriotism; and choirs inspire spiritual renewal. Music educators are well attuned to the power of music to alter mood, provide motivation, and link learning. Yet, music often has been viewed in educational settings…

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)

Looks at the contributions of other disciplines to the field of music learning. Describes the highlights of the Eastman Symposium for Musical Development and Cognition, and makes suggestions for interdisciplinary series of lectures and symposiums. (GG)

Folk music is not necessarily old, anonymous, or unwritten. Its most important characteristic is change through the folk process. Folk music is a part of our national heritage that children can usually acquire only in school. It can be used to support a variety of school subjects. (CS)