Student motivation is frequently an issue in general music classrooms, and many long-standing theories designed to increase motivation have the opposite effect. This article introduces Self-Determination Theory, first developed by Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, as a theory of human motivation. A key element of Self-Determination Theory is the…

In East Africa, Tanzania's musical expressions are rich and varied, and typically a combination of music and dance. A description of "Nindo," a multipart vocal music form of the central Tanzanian Wagogo community, is provided, and a tribute is offered to the legacy of an important village artist, Mchoya, of the musical form that is begin…

In this article, I address the contemporary discussion of later-life courses in music education research and how it might perpetuate the discrimination and stereotyping of older adults. Drawing from the sociology of aging, I aim to show that one possible way to tackle the ageist assumptions in music education is to reflect on rethinking,…

An essential element of creative musicianship is the ability to seek, provide, and respond to feedback. This article presents a method of teaching elementary music students to respond to creative work in a way that is productive and uplifting, using a discussion protocol. Grounded in the work of Lerman and Borstel's critical response and Seidel's…

Class piano has been a subset of piano pedagogy that has been growing in popularity since its establishment 200 years ago. The purpose of this literature review was to synthesize the research and materials related to the history of class piano and its function in (a) K-12 school settings, (b) collegiate student settings, and (c) adult student…

Evidence-based practice in education is the implementation of research-supported teaching tools to enhance students' learning. Retrieval practice is among the top performing learning techniques in scientific literature, with decades of research supporting its incorporation in educational contexts. Testing enhances posterior performance of the…

Music education in the United States aims to be for every child, yet many students become less interested in school music as they mature. Although previous research reveals activities that upper-elementary students may prefer, much of this research may not represent 21st-century students, the instruments and activities that have enhanced curricula…

Grant writing can be a useful tool for music educators and researchers who seek added funding for resources to facilitate their projects and programs. Since few grant-writing courses are tailored to the needs of music educators, this article provides information on how to identify funding mechanisms, understand grant-writing terminology, draft…

Autonomy-supportive teaching, self-determination theory, and self-regulated learning can be effective methods for increasing student motivation in a range of classroom settings. However, music educators struggle to apply principles of student autonomy in ensemble rehearsals. Using intent-based leadership as a practical model for guiding students…

This book offers an overview of the complex world of digital materials for music education and of their possible use in the everyday practice of music teachers. It presents a multidimensional taxonomy of digital materials for music education. Through the taxonomy it is possible to derive a clear framework of the whole field and to perform analysis…

There are many factors that influence the ability to play with accurate intonation, and this Part 1 "Extending the Discussion" article provides background on string intonation, including the physics of intonation, the relationship between stringed instrument technique and intonation, and how students learn to play with accurate…

Feedback is widely recognized as an effective instructional tool. Different feedback types and the efficacy of their role in the classroom have been researched extensively because all forms of feedback are impressionable to students. Research findings have indicated ways that feedback has been implemented into the classroom successfully. In this…

In the past six years, more than 40,000 students have failed the AP Music Theory Exam. Students have struggled especially when sight-singing or taking melodic dictation in compound meter and minor tonality. Research has shown that students can improve these specific aural skills through learning pitch and rhythm patterns, improvisation activities,…

The past few years have proven a need in higher education for tools that help educators and students maintain a flexible and highly adaptive approach to their coursework. Research into applied improvisation has shown that the improvisational mindset is beneficial to educational settings in this way, in part because of the way it encourages…

Bomba is an emblematic Puerto Rican musical genre that emerged 400 years ago from the colonial plantations where West African slaves and their descendants worked. It remains one of the most popular forms of folk music on the island and serves as significant evidence of its rich African heritage. This article explores the main components of bomba…