This teaching unit offers teachers, students, and their families a look at 3 centuries of history about the piano. Four lessons for high school music classes offer an opportunity to explore the cultural climate that nurtured the invention of and innovations for the piano along with descriptions of the personalities of the inventors, composers, and…

The construction and use of monochords is presented as a means of presenting students with an unusual and stimulating path to learn about the relationships of music and mathematics. Knowledge related to ratios, logarithms, and application of algebra is noted to be part of this relationship. (MP)

A continuing pedagogical problem with preadolescent string students is the introduction and development of finger-pattern concepts. The procedures outlined in this article not only introduce and reinforce a needed kinesthetic skill but also allow the child to be creative while making music in an American idiom--the blues. (Author/SJL)

The author suggests that the greatest barrier confronting a beginning improvisational jazz instrumentalist is fear. He suggests ways of eliminating this fear, beginning with specific suggestions for training the ear with vocal exercises, followed by specific suggestions for learning on instruments. (KC)

Instructions are provided for making these simple musical instruments from inexpensive materials: an Indian bull-roarer; bottle chimes; a ham can guitar; flower pot, box, and steel drums; a xylophone; a musical sawhorse; rattles; a melody box; and a box thumb harp. (SJL)

This music resource book is a compilation of traditional Hawaiian mele (songs) for use as a tool in music instruction and as a means to educate students in both the Hawaiian language and in various aspects of Hawaiian culture. Music and words are provided for each song as well as an English translation. The first section is comprised of songs or…

The Honolulu (Hawaii) Symphony Orchestra's commitment to education includes young people's concerts and in-school ensembles. The purpose of this booklet is to enhance the educational potential of in-school concerts through the presentation of information about the orchestra and music related concepts. Part 1 describes the orchestra's personnel,…

Intended for use by elementary teachers, this publication contains the music for ten songs from the Luba in the Kasai and Shaba regions of Zaire. The songs provide a means for young people to enjoy and to appreciate the musical heritage of Africa as a part of their more general understanding of music from around the world. The songs included are…

Three teaching units are presented as models for integrating the guitar in a comprehensive musicianship program. Designed for high school or college level, each emphasizes composition and improvisation. The units deal with the use of tremolo, quartal harmonic structure, and variation technique. Selected readings, music, and recordings are listed.…

Described are improvisational activities based on the Orff-Schulwerk teaching technique which include: sound and movement; sound and movement plus visuals; interpretation of designs from nature, architecture, paintings, rotating rondo, singing hands, and moving from words to song. Pictures of children participating in these activities are…

Describes the use of chromatic musical instrument tuners to make frequency measurements of sound waves and as an exercise in the conversion of pitch to frequency. (ZWH)

Arranged into eight parts, the booklet assists instrumental music teachers in facilitating musicianship in the beginning instrumental class. Part 1 presents a description and rationale for teaching comprehensive musicianship in instrumental programs. Part 2 presents a list of student objectives and teaching strategies for beginning level classes.…

Discusses methods for teaching instrumental music skills to educable mentally handicapped children. The author advocates consistent rules for equipment handling and playing position, frequent positive feedback from teachers, private lessons, rote-learning of music, and group playing experiences. Appropriate music training significantly improved…

It is suggested that a secondary school vocal or instrumental music director, even one with a limited background in early music, can establish a successful early music consort, but before establishing such a consort, the director should review thoroughly the main historical sources. These sources are listed. (KC)

Provides a strategy from the book "Strategies for Teaching Middle-Level General Music" that addresses Standard 3C from the National Standards for Music Education in which students improvise melodies in various styles on the keyboard using the G-flat major and E-flat minor scales. Describes the procedure, indicators of success, and…