On October 19, 1976, President Ford signed the nation's first comprehensive revision of our copyright law since 1909. It became fully effective on January 1, 1978 and it is a law that will need to be understood by music educators both to improve their teaching and to protect themselves and their schools from incurring liability or being sued. This…

The Music Industry Council serves as a liaison between the music educators of the United States and the manufacturing and publishing firms that supply the materials and equipment used in music education. Here are specific suggestions for the guidance of music educators in the business contacts essential to their teaching programs. (Editor/RK)

During the three thousand years in which the present music notation system has evolved, numerous notation methods have been considered, each with shortcomings in its ability either to meet the requirements of modern composers or to serve as an instructional system. Considers what must be done in order to satisfy the needs of both the advanced…

This discussion of copyright law on music focuses on the special problems of the band director who wishes to make a special arrangement or alteration of a copyrighted work. Guidelines and a sample form are provided for securing the publisher's permission to arrange a musical work. (SJL)

Provides tips for choral directors to use in selecting repertoire for school ensembles. Explains that the first step in choosing repertoire must be a systematic assessment of the singers, the director, and the program's objectives. Suggests that each composition must be appraised for musical content, teaching value, and aesthetic appeal. (DK)

Describes musical instrument digital interface (MIDI), a communication system that uses digital data to enable MIDI-equipped instruments to communicate with each other. Includes discussion of music editors, sequencers, compositional software, and commonly used computers. Suggests uses for the technology for students and teachers. Urges further…

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)

The author, an associate professor of music education at Pennsylvania State University and some undergraduate music education students explored possible uses of the synthesizer as they attempted to provide experiences in electronic music for a class of fifth grade students. Their program consisted of five lessons in the elements of music which are…

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)

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)

Asserts that a revolution has been occurring in musicology since the 1970s. Contends that music has change from being only a source of emotion to appearing more open to science and techniques based on computer technology. Describes recent research and other writings about the topic and provides an extensive bibliography. (CFR)

Describes a pilot study where choral conducting students used miniaturized scores (simplified scores that focus on specific gestural problems). Students received three simplified scores, each one highlighting a different approach. Students overwhelmingly favored the simplified score using a cuing technique. Includes, score excerpts, student…

This syllabus/handbook is designed to aid teachers and administrators in developing a music course to meet the New York State Commission of Education's requirements for a one year high school Music In Our Lives (MIOL) class. This class encompasses the areas of listening, performing, composing, using basic tool skills, and developing special…

Provides an insightful summation and critique of David Elliott's "Music Matters: A New Philosophy of Music Education." Praises the book for its broad selection of thinkers and diverse array of topics. Claims, however, that the book places undue emphasis on performing and stoops to ridiculing rival theories. (MJP)

Identifies several sets of criteria starting band directors can use to overcome common pitfalls. These include helpful hints on repertoire selection, rehearsal procedures, and setting realistic expectations. Concludes with a look at "the big picture," a list of suggested themes for concerts. (MJP)