Describes the benefits of a curriculum that includes musical experiences. Discusses methods teachers can use to incorporate focused listening, singing accuracy, beat competency, and music appreciation into classroom activities. Suggested records and tapes are listed. (LB)

Considers some ways in which choral directors can help choristers improve intonation. Suggests music exercises for vertical and horizontal intonation and unified vowel formation. Also discusses physical factors, including tension, poor posture, and poor breath management, that influence how well a chorus stays in tune. Outlines relaxation and…

Observes that the skills of vocal improvisation and inventiveness are not usually taught or encouraged in most high school or college jazz ensembles. Discusses ways that teachers can guide students in developing basic, but authentic, vocal improvisation skills. Notes sources for repertoires that encourage the practice of improvisation. (DSK)

Observes that good diction helps promote a good choral sound. Discusses methods for teaching how to properly shape vowel sounds and to properly front consonants. Includes various other considerations for teaching particular sounds and words, as well as foreign-language lyrics. (DSK)

Investigates patterns of music listening among music majors regarding accompanied and unaccompanied excerpts varying in tone quality and intonation. Tests the reliability of the Continuous Response Digital Interface, contrasting the measurements obtained to those from a paper and pencil measure. Discusses the results. (CMK)

Explores the validity of reproduction tonal memory tests by examining the relationships among performances on an existing reproduction tonal memory test and several recognition tonal memory tests. Tested 210 fifth through twelfth grade students. Concludes that there is a moderate relationship among performances on the tests. Includes references.…

Presents various activities for use in the foreign language classroom. These include listening to songs to develop an awareness of intonation and rhythm, reading literature to learn the functions of relative pronouns, engaging in conversation to become proficient in a second language, and preparing a weather report to improve one's vocabulary…

Reviews research literature on inaccurate singers to assist teachers and parents in helping children find and maintain their singing voices. Presents the studies within three categories: (1) hearing music; (2) remembering music; and (3) reproducing music. Contends that teachers must know about the research in order to experiment with the suggested…

Investigates the preferences of elementary students for 10 songs selected from the Music Educators National Conference published list of songs, "Get America Singing...Again!," and how song familiarity may be related to song preference. Finds a consistent relationship between song familiarity and preference; grade level, gender, and…

Examines starting pitches and tonality in singing familiar songs when no reference pitch is given and how adults unify key during singing. Indicates that the subjects showed significant differences in starting pitches depending on the beginning pitch range and melody type and lowered or matched their leaders key when establishing a unified key.…

Examines the effects of soloistic versus blended choral singing and random versus acoustic choral seating arrangements on evaluations of choral blend and overall choral sound. States that 37 choral conductors, 33 voice teachers, and 32 nonvocal musicians rated performances of four pieces by a choir of 22 voice majors. Includes references. (CMK)

Focuses on the use of creative movement within the choral rehearsal. Discusses various techniques that can be used to integrate movement into the classroom, such as students mirroring the teacher's gestures, demonstrating phrase shape, unison tapping and clapping, and moving for dynamic contrast. (CMK)

Presents three principles of repertoire selection: (1) select music of good quality; (2) select music that is teachable; and (3) select music that is appropriate to the context. Discusses how repertoire selection relates to the National Standards for Music Education. Lists resources for repertoire selection and choral teaching. (CMK)

Explores how choir directors choose the music repertoire for a concert. Offers six criteria (text, singability, form, part-writing, accompaniment, and instructional implications) when evaluating a piece for use with children. Discusses the process of developing the concert. Includes sources for listings of children's choir octavos and sample…

Walk into any primary grade music class in the U.S., and you will likely hear teacher and students singing a musical greeting, such as "Good morning boys and girls" (sol-mi-mi-sol-sol-mi) and the response "Good morning Miss Purdy" (sol-mi-mi-sol-mi-mi). Since about the 1970s, teachers have been beginning and ending music class for young children…