This article begins with a brief history of children's singing instruction in schools. When Kenneth Phillips began researching children's singing, he was surprised to learn that a strong program of child vocal pedagogy was in place in America's schools for about a hundred years--the 1830s to the 1930s. By the 1950s however, all that…

Elementary students in the experimental group responded to the group breath-control training in such a way as to reflect a change in breathing from chest or clavicular to abdominal-diaphragmatic-costal breathing, with a corresponding improvement in vocal range, vocal intensity, and pitch accuracy. (Author/RM)

Forty-three elementary education majors in three classes took part in this study of the effectiveness of class voice instruction for elementary school children on vocal knowledge, attitudes, and vocal performance of the study participants. Two classes were assigned to one of the treatment conditions (vocal instruction with breath emphasis and…

Reviews Goetze's dissertation investigating two factors that affect accuracy in young children's singing: the presence of other voices in unison singing, compared with individual singing, and the use of text rather than a neutral syllable. States that the research is of high quality leading directly to classroom practice. (LS)

Proposes to determine whether inaccurate singers have differing abilities in pitch discrimination and tonal aptitude than accurate singers. Finds no statistical difference in pitch discrimination or tonal aptitude between accurate and inaccurate singers. Suggests that inaccurate singers are not "tone deaf" or lacking in sufficient aural…

Investigates the relationship of psychomotor skills instruction on student attitudes in grades 4-6 towards singing and general music instruction. Finds females have more positive attitudes, interest declines as grade-level increases, group vocal instruction may produce more positive attitudes, and a positive relationship between liking to sing in…

Advocates making sight-reading an integral part of choral music instruction and rehearsals. Recommends the Kodaly method for teaching tonic and dominant tonal patterns. Describes several instructional exercises designed to motivate and engage students. (MJP)

Investigates the effects of a year-long program of vocal instruction on measures of respiration (vital capacity, peak flow, duration) and singing performance (high pitch, low pitch, total range, pitch accuracy) among general music students in elementary grades. Charts the specific psychomotor skills most influenced by instructive measures. (MJP)