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)

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)

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)

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)

Presented is the rationale and a method for developing a graded brass quintet in grades 5 through 12. A suggested brass quintet repertoire, arranged from easy to difficult, is included. (KC)

The author describes the itinerary and impressions of a group (Music Educators National Conference) of American composers, dancers, and other artists who made up the first cultural delegation from the United States to the People's Republic of China since the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries. (Author/KC)

The author discusses the importance of the study of the contour of form and of a review of how music elements affect contour when studying jazz composition. When this has been mastered, students can begin the study of style. (Author/KC)

Described is the Emile Jaques-Dalcroze method of improvisation, which he believed was the study of the direct relations between cerebral commands and muscular interpretations in order to express one's own musical feelings. Performance is propelled by developing the students' powers of sensation, imagination, and memory. (Author/KC)

Discussed is music of the sub-Sahara. Vocal, instrumental, and dance drumming from the Sudan Desert, the North Coast, East Horn, Central and West Africa, and contrapuntal yodeling of Pygmies is described. For African musicians, the ability to improvise, and creativity, are gifts from God. Includes selected readings and recordings. (KC)

Discussed are the problems of retired persons in general and of the retired music educator in particular. Suggestions are made for making use of the expertise of the retired music educator. (KC)