Recommends all music programs taking an active role in developing programs that promote and teach improvisation. Discusses some simple instructional strategies and models to follow when creating an improvisational program. Includes score selections and a list of selected resources. (MJP)

Discusses the action research conducted on whether the use of conducting patterns will not only help students understand meter, but also assist them in grasping certain expressive qualities of music. Finds that the posttest showed a 10 percent gain overall in the understanding of meter, tempo, dynamics, and style. (CMK)

This activity is the result of a school-university collaboration among four educators (two intermediate classroom teachers, a vice-principal/teacher, and a university-based teacher educator/researcher) who worked together to improve the quality of learning in the classroom. The educators combined their teaching expertise to plan and co-teach an…

Background: In Hong Kong, many parents encourage their children to take extra music lessons beyond normal school hours. This study investigates parents' perceptions of the benefits of music to children. Aims: To investigate why many parents in Hong Kong encourage their children to take extra music lessons beyond normal school hours, and to examine…

This investigation is an examination of musical practices, musical preparation of teachers, and music education needs as reported by early childhood professionals in the United States. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered via a survey mailed to a random sample drawn from the database of preschool centers accredited by the National…

Eurythmy is a disciplined art of movement of the arms and body that visibly expresses the vowels and consonants of speech and the tones and intervals of musical melody. In the classroom, eurythmic movements have a therapeutic function in which the child's development is supported and enhanced through its various stages. This article discusses the…

This paper analyzes the relationship between MI (musical independence) and placement in college instrumental ensembles and presented from 3 achievement tests administered to 354 excellent postsecondary instrumental students. Findings are presented from three achievement tests administered to 354 instrumentalists participating in Ball State…

The impact that high school and college experiences and activities have on students' musical independence (MI) was investigated. MI is related to the actual production and performance of music, as opposed to musical achievement or the mastery of any academic skill related to music. Colwell's Musical Achievement Test 3, Musical Achievement Test 4,…

Five-to-10-year-old children identified familiar melodies presented in three ways: intact, wandering with the same key, or wandering outside the key. Previous work with rhythmically uniform melodies had shown a regular developmental progression in the use of contour, tonality, and exact pitch intervals in melody identification. In this study, with…

Practical tips for improving the quality of child care are offered in this guide. It presents early childhood research findings in everyday language and suggests ways to apply these findings with active learning experiences for children. Developmentally appropriate, holistic activities are presented for key areas. The first five parts of the book…

This document is a guide that maps student progress in a seventh- or eighth-grade general music class. Growth is based on music concepts learned through singing, listening, playing, and reading. Concepts to be learned include melody, rhythm, harmony, form/style, and expressive qualities. Skills to be developed around each concept fall into three…

This music curriculum guide for the required music component of the fine arts curriculum in Alberta (Canada) covers concepts, skills, and attitudes, as well as enrichment and integration activities. Concepts are the intellectual framework of the music program and are divided into five elements: (1) rhythm, (2) melody, (3) harmony, (4) form, and…

Music education in today's educational system has been fighting for its existence as a curricular subject, with many school systems finding it convenient to keep the classification of music-related activities in limbo. Music educators must be prepared to defend their programs and educational objectives or face a future of extra-curricular status…

This paper describes the work of a teacher at the Heartwood Dance Center, a school of dance and related arts in rural Calhoun County, West Virginia. The teacher also conducts freelance workshops in local schools of the region, where people are isolated and incomes are generally low. The extent to which children are talented is partially dependent…

Oregon's common curriculum goals for music education, an area of study that addresses the components of valuing music, developing music literacy, performing music, and creating music are presented. An overall goal for each one of these four strands is established, and then the content specific knowledge and skills that students should possess by…