The methods and music of American Professor Joan Yakkey have had an international influence on the music education of elementary and secondary students. Yakkey, a graduate of the High School of Performing Arts and Queens College in New York City, went to Italy to teach music in the 1970's. Italy, a country historically rich in music, was experiencing a drought in music education and, consequently, composers and performers. Yakkey found that the traditional Kodaly and Orff methods of teaching music reading skills did not work in every context. She developed the Sign and Sound method of teaching music in which students learn to read and perform music through drawing, listening, body movement, engaging in creative games, and ultimately performing. For nearly 50 years, students in Italy and around the world have used the Sign and Sound Method to learn music, provide high-quality performances, and continue their country's traditions of great music. Through extensive interviews and ephemera, this book chronicles the life of Joan Yakkey, the Sign and Sound music teaching methods and repertoire, and performances given by students. [Published by Year of the Book.]