The list of operas contained in this article continues a series of selected works of American music--for chorus, for band, for orchestra, for the elementary school, and opera--prepared by the MENC Bicentennial Commission. (Editor/RK)

The list of works for band presented in this article was prepared as one of the projects of the MENC Bicentennial Commission. (Author/RK)

Asserting that children are particularly open to novelty in music, the author analyzes four examples of twentieth-century avante-garde music and suggests how they can be presented in a children's music class. (SJL)

Educators need to develop teaching strategies that allow children to explore creative musical processes that will nurture musical skills, self-awareness, and imagination. A sequence of five lessons encompassing language arts and music demonstrates how students can develop creativity by writing haiku and then composing music to accompany the poems.…

This article provided some basic suggestions on how to get the most out of rehearsal time. (Editor/RK)

Activities are suggested to teach the basic concepts of twelve tone serial technique. Students need no prior background in contemporary music. At least two sets of resonator bars are necessary. (This article is part of a theme issue on aspects of contemporary music.) (Author/SJL)

Recommends commissioning new works as a challenging and motivating learning experience for high school and college bands. Includes several guidelines for negotiating costs and performance rights with the composer, as well as other technical details. Discusses specific problems arising from this arrangement and possible solutions. (MJP)

This paper describes how the musical dice game can be used with beginning, intermediate, or advanced students. In the musical dice game, the student composes six separate musical compositions of five measures each. Each measure of the musical compositions is written on a separate, numbered card. The performance of each measure is determined by…

Article described a program with the goal of developing a creative music curriculum that would interest and challenge sixth-graders. Students were motivated to write the lyrics and music for their own songs. (Author/RK)

This curriculum unit introduces intermediate grade and middle school students to the work of Stephen Sondheim, one of the most talented composers of the contemporary American musical theater, and teaches them about the process of writing an original musical. The unit notes that in his musical "Into the Woods" Sondheim incorporates (and…

This publication is part of a series of monographs on the art of teaching. Each volume, focusing on a specific discipline, explores theory in the context of teaching strategies connected to evaluation of both teachers' and students' learning. Three techniques are offered to help teachers use the series: dialogues (as self-evaluation and in study…

This guide helps teachers and students examine the questions "Who are composers?" and "How do they compose?" In addition to the musical component of the inquiry, the guide also explores the world of writers and how they write and visual artists and how they create. Materials in the guide encourage students to express their…

Presents a series of teaching suggestions and ideas based on the National Standards for Arts Education. Focuses on musical composition for elementary and secondary students. Includes a teaching example illustrating how the National Standards can be put into practice. (CFR)

A year-long music instruction unit introduces students to information about the lives of nine great composers of the classics and to their works. Each month a different composer is featured. No special training for teachers is necessary. (PP)