Presents the attempts of four teachers to get parents involved in and excited about school music. Includes a description of a school concert that included a performance by band parents; parents clubs for orchestra, band, or choral groups; newsletters; and a band class in which parents learned to play their child's instrument. (DK)

Observes that composition is seldom taught in music classes. Suggests that teachers cultivate student creativity and meet the National Standards for Music Education through composition activities with their beginning, intermediate, and advanced choirs. Presents activities that can be used at all three levels. (DSK)

Presents eight ideas for making your music classroom visually attractive. (Editor/RK)

The Alliance for Arts Education is an educational project embracing organizations and individuals at the national, state, and local levels with a mutual commitment to the arts as an integral part of the educational process. The JDR 3rd Fund provides consultant and technical services and, through coordination of the League of Cities for the Arts in…

Resources already available within a school system can support and maintain an effective AGE program. Discusses these resources and strategies for delivering them to students and teachers. (Author/RK)

Project SEARCH is a cooperative program developed for and by New York education administrators and teachers to develop products and processing for humanizing education. Its aim is to reorient teacher attitudes toward the arts through workshops that develop teachers' capacities for affective aesthetic response. Teachers then are guided in efforts…

In 1975, under the auspices of the Manhattan School of Music, an opera for children project was initiated at Public School 75 in New York City. Its aim was to acquaint the public school's faculty, parents, and students with the technical and performance aspects of opera production. (Author)

Offers an overview of the use of computers and electronic keyboards or synthesizers in school-based music instruction. Contends that teachers must keep abreast of new developments by attending conventions, reading trade journals, and visiting local music stores. (JDH)

Provides excerpts from the task force report which proposes the use of individual professional development plans and calls for strengthening the bonds between elementary and secondary music educators and college faculty. (JDH)

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)

Suggestions are made to help music teachers with limited resources, such as a low budget, poor quality instruments, and small amounts of rehearsal time, develop a band that provides quality performance. Suggestions include properly maintaining student-model instruments and designing a lesson format for a private lesson and using it in group…

Discussed are four rules that will help band directors become better managers. The rules are: there is a place for everything; write it down; don't rely upon your memory; list daily activities in order of priority; and inform others in the same manner in which you would like to be informed. (RM)

The Suzuki talent education method, which combines sequential learning with continual review, is described. The method can be used in developing high levels of musical awareness, technical skill, and artistry in extremely young performers from very different backgrounds. How teachers of choral music might use it is discussed. (RM)

Ideas to help music teachers get ready for Music In Our Schools Month, March, 1986, are suggested. (RM)

Guidelines to help elementary and secondary music teachers organize activities for Music in Our Schools Month are presented. (RM)