Presents three principles of repertoire selection: (1) select music of good quality; (2) select music that is teachable; and (3) select music that is appropriate to the context. Discusses how repertoire selection relates to the National Standards for Music Education. Lists resources for repertoire selection and choral teaching. (CMK)

Discusses why students who play musical instruments should participate in a chamber music ensemble. Provides rationale for using small ensembles in the high school band curriculum. Focuses on the topic of scheduling, illustrating how to insert small ensembles into the lesson schedule, and how to set up a new schedule. (CMK)

Focuses on the importance of creative thinking in music education. Addresses three factors that support creativity in music: (1) the availability of resources for teachers, (2) the growth of information related to understanding creative thinking, and (3) the role of technology. Introduces this issue of the "Music Educators Journal." (CMK)

Explains the process for creating a curriculum in music education. Offers a definition of curriculum and address issues to be considered while designing the curriculum. Discusses how to incorporate the National Standards for Music Education, describes important music concepts, and offer guidelines for writing. (CMK)

Discusses how medieval music can be utilized in the choral and general music classroom to teach middle school students and to address the National Standards for Music Education. Provides background information on medieval music, ideas for lessons, and a glossary of key terms. (CMK)

Discusses the life and career of William Schuman, addressing his career in music with a focus on his work as a composer. Explores his work as the president of the Juilliard School of Music and of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (New York City, New York). Focuses on his philosophy of music education. (CMK)

Addresses the importance of repertoire selection, stating that high quality music provides students with a foundation in the music classroom. Introduces this issue's special focus on the selection of repertoire. Offers information from broad guidelines to suggestions for specific music ensembles. (CMK)

Explains how singing can be incorporated into the band rehearsal. Discusses how to improve student aural skills by including singing in the rehearsal and the benefits of having students sing. Describes how music teachers can use songs or chorales in the classroom. (CMK)

Focuses on the Manhattanville College (Purchase, New York) Music Curriculum Project (MMCP) that examined how to improve music education in schools. Discusses topics, such as aesthetic expression, learning and development, the characteristics of music teachers in the MMCP, and the MMCP and national standards. (CMK)

Discusses how music educators can address Content Standard 6 of the National Standards for Music Education that concentrates on teaching students to listen, analyze, and describe music. Provides six approaches that help students access new pieces of music through listening, such as responding enactively to musical cues and focusing on cultural…

Discusses how to teach the elements of music as well as the National Music Education Standards. Explains that teachers can accomplish this goal by using conjoined rubrics. Describes how to create a conjoined rubric, how to score the rubric, and what resources are available. (CMK)

Discusses the importance of lifelong learning for music teachers, addressing the reasons why teachers should seek new professional ideas and experiences, such as advances in technology and the influence of the national standards. Explains the process for planning lifelong learning experiences. Includes exercises to facilitate the goal-setting…

Addresses the creation of national standards for music education in Lithuania. Provides background information on the role of music in Lithuania. Explains that in 1997 a group of music educators helped develop the standards. Demonstrates that the proposed standards will be easily implemented since they were being practiced in the classroom…

Explores the argument introduced by the "Mozart Effect" research: that music's positive influence on spatial-temporal reasoning should be the purpose for music education. Considers the implications by reshaping the National Standards for Music Education to fulfill the spatial-temporal rationale. Suggests how to reconcile musical and…

Discusses a student-centered activity in which students create a fictitious radio show as a means to address Content Standards 8 and 9 of the National Standards in middle school or high school general music courses. Explores student resources, preparation and teamwork, discussion topics, assessment, and extensions of the project. (CMK)