Observes that composition is seldom taught in music classes. Suggests that teachers cultivate student creativity and meet the National Standards for Music Education through composition activities with their beginning, intermediate, and advanced choirs. Presents activities that can be used at all three levels. (DSK)

Music offerings in United States schools have remained largely the same for well over half a century. Basic program consists of general music classes up to and sometimes through middle school and elective performance opportunities in upper elementary grades through high school, primarily focused on band (including jazz groups), orchestra, and…

Middle school choral students and their teachers can benefit from studying and performing a musical. The students can apply their vocal skills to the exploration of this important genre of American music. Outstanding chores members will have opportunities to perform as soloists and to master dramatic roles. The teachers can express themselves…

Discusses the importance of music centers in the early childhood class to the development of music abilities of children. Significance of understanding of the fundamental concepts in music including pitch and duration to the musical skills of primary and elementary students; Impact of environment on the learning abilities of children; Role of…

When sharing stories with children they often embody the characters, and participate in the actions of the book without even thinking about it. Their wiggles and shouts would tell that they are "in" the story. Children's spontaneous movements, sounds, and rhythms allow them to become part of the story's action. In this article, the author suggests…

This is the third study in a line of inquiry whose purpose has been to develop a theoretical model of selected extra musical variables' influence on solo and small-ensemble festival ratings. Authors of the second of these (Bergee & McWhirter, 2005) had used binomial logistic regression as the basis for their model-formulation strategy. Their…

The general purpose of this study was to determine if marching band members, while carrying instruments, obtained 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on a daily basis. Heart rates were collected on 16 members of a university marching band. Results indicate a significant difference in highest heart rate means for those carrying light…

High school singers (N = 198) individually sang two melodies from notation, with and without a 30-second practice opportunity. Overall accuracy scores were significantly higher with preparation time. The less accurate singers, however, did not benefit from practice time. Analysis of videoed tests indicated that high scorers tonicized (vocally…

Preschool children's listening time responses to free versus directed listening activities were compared. For the free condition, children were instructed just to "listen as long as you would like." The directed condition was a written task designed to focus attention on specific aspects of the music and give children something concrete to do…

Most of the preschool curricula involve integrated movement activities that combine music, rhythm and locomotor skills. The purpose of the current study was to examine whether there are any differences between boys and girls at the age of five concerning their musical aptitude, rhythmic ability and performance in gross motor skills. Ninety-five…

Discusses the developmental and academic benefits of basic music skills and rhythmic competence, and considers ways to incorporate this practice into early childhood class activities. Includes sample activities to build teacher and student confidence and competence in rhythm and singing. (JPB)

This article presents poetry as data and reports on how this poetry was used to present themes that emerged in interviews with three parents of children under the age of 5 in a study of the music activities they chose to initiate in the home following a musical parenting workshop conducted by the researcher. Poetry written by the researcher was…

Detailed analyses of adult-infant interaction among some European and North American populations have revealed that it resides on characteristics such as synchronous timing, phrasing, pitch contours and variations of dynamic intensity that are essentially musical in nature. Moreover, this musicality of infancy is the medium which enables and…

The idea for this project developed in a doctoral seminar taught by Caroline Helton, a white faculty member in voice at the University of Michigan. In a presentation on the performance practice of singing spirituals, Emery Stephens, an African American graduate student in the seminar, concluded by encouraging everyone in the room (all white with…

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact that education level and primary performance instrument have on the evaluation of music performances. Participants (N = 423) in the study were middle school (n = 187), high school (n = 113), and college (n = 123) musicians who performed on either a brass (n = 115) or a nonbrass (n = 301)…