Choral method textbooks include various strategies on when and how to introduce expression in song acquisition including vocal modeling. In two previous studies, participants who learned expressive elements early in a song-learning sequence (infused-expression) performed those elements more accurately than those who learned them at the end of the…

Previous research findings of assessment in choir indicated that teachers favor non-performance criteria such as attendance and attitude over music knowledge and skill. Music education researchers have encouraged teachers to instead use measurable learning goals that inform teaching practices and document student growth. New assessment…

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…

In a series of three video-recorded assignments over a 6-week period, undergraduate music education students (N = 16) enrolled in an instrumental methods course described aloud what they were thinking about as they practiced a three-note melody on a secondary brass instrument. Later, I completed a content analysis of the students' practice…

This research-to-resource article proposes and supports the application of sound-to-symbol approaches within the 5E instructional model to teach musical concepts experientially in beginning band settings. Drawing upon insights from music education scholars and pedagogues advocating for a shift toward sound-first approaches, the article explores…

The inclusion of musics from varied cultural traditions in school music curricula has become increasingly important. Research findings indicate that providing students with opportunities to learn musics from diverse cultures can increase acceptance and appreciation of different cultures, enrich music and cultural experiences, and nurture…

Conducting is a multifaceted and essential skill set expected of musicians from many specializations, but certainly for music educators who often fill ensemble leadership roles. For most undergraduate music majors, introductory conducting courses are their first experiences with conducting. Attending to all fundamental components of the…

The purpose of this scoping review was to synthesize literature regarding audio streaming in the P-12 music classroom by identifying the varied uses, recommendations for equitable access, and gaps in the knowledge base. A total of 23 publications met the criteria for inclusion. Ensemble and general music classrooms in elementary, middle, and high…

The purpose of this review of literature was to explore intersections between movement and gesture, and to examine their effects on singing. Music educators have long championed the integration of movement into music instruction. The effects of movement have been studied and correlations found between an individual singer's intonation, internal…

After making instructional changes due to COVID-19 lockdowns, secondary ensemble teachers reported stronger personal connections with students and increased focus on developing individual musicianship. Using an online survey, we examined if and how the shift to online instruction affected secondary music ensemble teachers' perceptions and…

Composition is a natural human activity that can both support other music instruction and help students develop creativity that is applicable to their extramusical endeavors. It also constitutes a major strand within national and state music standards. However, it is not consistently taught in ensemble classrooms, which are often students' only…

Through the use of an intrinsic case study, I investigated student and teacher perceptions of a collaborative and student-directed music learning approach in a high school choral classroom. Students (N = 29) in a beginning high school choir were asked to choose and learn a piece of repertoire without substantive input or help from the choral…

Recent curriculum policy changes in British Columbia (BC) require that educators in all subject areas--including music--embed local Indigenous knowledge, pedagogies, and worldviews in their classes. Yet facilitating such decolonizing cross-cultural music education activities requires knowledge that music educators may not currently possess. We use…

The recent increase in popular music education in K-12 school music programs is in part due to the expansion of modern band programming throughout the United States. Modern band is a term used to describe school music ensembles that include popular music instruments and focus on performing music that is meaningful to the students while…

The purpose of this study was to examine secondary band directors' self-efficacy toward concert, marching, and jazz ensemble pedagogy. Secondary purposes were to investigate potential relationships between secondary band directors' self-efficacy in concert, marching, and jazz ensemble pedagogy and their respective (a) demographics and (b) previous…