Examines the relationships among accuracy in singing the starting pitch of a song and (1) perceived tonal center; (2) ability to maintain constant key while singing; (3) self-selected pitch level; and (4) previous music experience. Reports statistical results and relates them to the training of elementary education majors. (DSK)

Details 40 music programs in Australia that serve children from birth to 5 years, including aims, methodologies, equipment and materials, and assessment procedures of each program. Encourages providers to critically reflect on the quality of the music education they provide and how well it builds on children's natural positive relationship with…

Examines the use of music as a springboard for writing. Provides an explanation of how basic writing students can use music-writing activities to discover meaningful topics and ideas, to develop specific supporting details, and to understand the connections between purpose and audience. (RS)

The teaching of music-related leisure skills to secondary students with disabilities is discussed. Areas of discussion include the limits of music education programs; music-related skills that can be taught in the classroom (including accessing, appreciating, and engaging in musical experiences); and teaching music-related skills (including…

Suggests using the informal experiences students have through extracurricular activities such as music lessons to design a curriculum related to sound that encourages active student participation and learning. (DDR)

Concentrates on the role verbal language plays in relation to music listening, or "knowing within" music. Discusses three different forms of knowledge (episteme, phronesis, and aisthesis) that are inherent in language and the musical listening experience. Expounds that knowledge by aisthesis depends on one's ability to perceive the…

Describes how teachers at three different elementary schools use jazz to teach students to read, write, and sing. In each case, jazz is used to enrich standard curricula and raise students' appreciation of this music form widely recognized for its rich heritage rooted in African American culture. Literature resources and relevant Web sites are…

In this study, the effectiveness of recorded models in the context of ensemble rehearsals was examined. Over a 5-week treatment period, directors of three middle/junior high and two high school bands systematically included professional recordings as part of their preparation of selected pieces. Students completed weekly self-evaluation reports…

The Central Bands Commissioning Project was a multidimensional endeavor. One dimension included organizational details, such as selecting a composer, negotiating a contract, and securing funds. A second dimension was made up of teaching and learning activities related to the commission, such as meeting local composers, writing letters to composers…

This is the fourth in a series of studies whose purpose has been to develop a theoretical model of selected extramusical variables' ability to explain solo and small-ensemble festival ratings. Authors of the second and third of these (Bergee & McWhirter, 2005; Bergee & Westfall, 2005) used logistic regression as the basis for their…

This article describes the author's experience of adopting a child-centered approach to his pedagogy. The approach has created many teachable moments for his students and has improved the quality of their musical interactions. The article also presents ideas and strategies about child-centered, problem-based learning applied to the elementary…

Masafumi Ogawa's paper presents challenge after challenge facing the teacher and the teacher educator in Japan. One has the sense that a lifetime of frustrations with the national curriculum, the set-up of student teaching, and the definition of music as a school subject each made its way into the paper. Even choosing to focus on teacher training…

It is important to realize that students encompass a vast array of American musical cultures and the values they represent. The impact of this diversity can be seen in the influence music has on the self-image that many students have developed. Clothing, hair styles, makeup, tattoos, and body piercings, as well as in-and out-of-school social…

This article describes the ways that will help school directors in promoting their band program. An example is the Roanoke-Benson High School Band in Illinois which, fourteen years ago, had just twenty-four members. The low enrollment was understandable considering that the high school had 195 students. However, through an assertive effort to…

Most people think of the teaching and learning of music as taking place in formal, institutional contexts like schools and universities. This study looks at the transmission of music teaching and learning that takes place in a more informal, musical environment, namely at a "popular music festival." In particular, it discusses the OM…