Looking for something for students to enjoy in the jazz category? The life of Ella Fitzgerald and her music are an inspiration to all. Everyone loved her incredible voice, amazing range, and ability to imitate any instrument. Ella sang in numerous musical styles, from Broadway show tunes to popular songs to jazz. Her abilities earned her the…

This narrative describes two United States Air Force bandswomen whose combined careers span the past sixty years. Cornetist Martha (Martye) Jean Awkerman joined the U.S. Women in the Air Force (WAF) Band in 1955. She served the WAF band as cornet soloist and principal trumpet until the band was disbanded in 1961. In 1983, tubist Jan Duga joined…

Satis Coleman (1878-1961) was a pioneering but underacknowledged teacher in the history of American music education. Hers was a voice of teaching creativity in the twentieth century, which occurred at the progressive Lincoln Lab School and Teachers College, Columbia University, in New York City. This article considers Coleman's music education…

A portrait of 92-year-old musician/writer Eulalia Buttleman and her husband, Clifford, who was the editor of "Music Educators Journal" from 1930 to 1960. (SJL)

The late 1950s and early 1960s were times of controversial innovation in jazz. Mary Lou Williams--the outstanding female instrumentalist in jazz history, female players of avant-garde music, and women currently in the jazz forefront are discussed. (RM)

As a reminder that creativity in music and learning go on through life, this article presents a portfolio of photographs and vignettes of musicians in their seventies, eighties, and nineties who continue to be outstandingly creative in composition and/or performance. (Author/SJL)

Gene Morlan, the soon-to-retire director of professional programs for the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), has devoted much of his life to music education and to MENC. A brief biography, accompanied by photographs, is presented. (RM)

In recognition of Rudolf Friml's centenary (1879-1979), his career as a composer of operettas, musical comedies, and musical satires and as a concert pianist is reviewed. (KC)

Presented is the life and philosophy of Alice Parker, a teacher of musical composition, who is in great demand as a speaker on college campuses and who composes on commission for a wide variety of organizations. (KC)

The year 1985 marks the 300th birthday of three masters of Baroque music: Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frederic Handel, and Dominico Scarlatti. A summary of the history of Baroque music and a profile of the three composers, which can be used to teach secondary students about the period, are provided. (RM)

Reviews the life of Hungarian composer Bela Bartok, with emphasis on his collection and use of ethnic music sources. (SJL)

Discusses the life of William Billings, an early American composer and a leader in one of the earliest forms of organized music education in the United States: singing schools and singing societies. Examines his contributions to the U.S. musical heritage and briefly surveys his publications. (GEA)

In this interview, popular composer and recording artist Chuck Mangione discusses his own musical background and his views on music education, including the workshops he conducts for student musicians. This article is part of a theme issue on popular music. (SJL)

Historians of American music education have yet to recognize a Black music educator as important and worthy of observation. This article discusses a candidate--Major Nathaniel Clark Smith, a little-known Black music educator, composer of more than a hundred works, businessman, humanitarian, and teacher of numerous big-name jazz musicians. (RM)

The author describes the evolution of the American musical since 1750 and emphasizes the often overlooked importance of the orchestrator. She discusses the talents of several extraordinarily gifted musicians. (KC)