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 introduction for this Alberta (Canada) music education guide offers reasons for students to study the fine arts at the secondary school level. A philosophy of music education is presented along with 5 key outcomes and 11 music appreciation expectations for secondary students to attain. The volume features wind and percussion instruments. The…

Describes a study that involved a search for a model for the teaching of musical composition to students with some prior experience. Recounts in detail the way students approached the task of composing music, and the compositions they produced. Offers several recommendations for reforming composition instruction. (MJP)

Provides a lesson plan for beginning string students using a basic rhythm from Zimbabwe's Shona people and then building upon that rhythm. Briefly discusses simple yet effective techniques for playing and adapting African music. Includes musical scores, teaching tips, and selected recordings. (MJP)

Reviews the career and contributions of Julius Eichberg (1824-93), a pioneer in string and vocal instruction in Boston (Massachusetts). Eichberg founded the Boston Conservatory, supervised music education for the Boston public school system, and taught teacher-training courses. In addition, he composed choral works and operas, and edited several…

Examines the relationship of grade level to children's ability to make musical discriminations when elements are presented simultaneously. Utilized a brief instructional period, listening tests, and singing tasks. Results indicated significant differences between grade level, types of discrimination, and musical interactions. Includes statistical…

Delineates the cultural norms evident in the performance and practice of Ghanaian children's play songs. Describes the similarities and differences between these and those of adult Ghanaian music culture. Discusses the social significance of the songs and includes several tables showing musical notation. (MJP)

Charts the development of music education from early utilitarianism up to its current emphasis on aesthetic value. Recent attempts to pursue music education as an interdisciplinary subject have been limited due to budget cuts. Briefly discusses this financial crisis and suggests some sources of alternative funding. (MJP)

Examines the relationship between vocal pitch accuracy and gender, grade level, and the presence or absence of an accompanying unison voice. Reveals no significant differences between unison or individual singing or for gender. Fourth and fifth graders exhibited significant differences. (MJP)

Profiles music scholar Charles L. Seeger and his contribution to U.S. musical life. Seeger played a significant role in introducing vernacular music to schools, extending the definition of U.S. music in the curriculum, presenting music as a cultural subject, and promoting musical diversity in the classroom. (MJP)

Presents the results of a study where musicians listened to 20 minutes of Puccini's, "La Boheme," and indicated which of the five musical elements (melody, rhythm, timbre, dynamics, or everything) commanded their attention. Two groups responded using differing instructions for the Continuous Response Digital Interface. Analyzes the different…

Reiterates the common wisdom of teaching the musical sounds before the corresponding signs in early music education. Stresses the phenomenological importance of teaching the relationships among the sounds as part of a tonal unit. Advocates beginning music education with the students' specific musical culture. (MJP)

Attempts a deeper understanding of, and justification for, music education by concentrating on its application in two historic periods. Contrasts the utilitarian approach of Greek civilization with the religious and liturgical concepts of the Medieval period. Asserts that historical awareness is an integral component of music education. (MJP)

Presents 44 entries from a modern composer and music professors' journal, culled from 1993 to the present. Includes comments and criticisms of composers and musicians, as well as philosophical and practical observations. (MJP)