In this article, we explore the theory and practical application of gamification learning in music education, specifically targeting young students. Our focus is on facilitating intentional learning and engagement through the use of gamified techniques. Designed intentionally with nondigital elements, it mirrors a cooperative board game. This game…

Songwriting pedagogy is in its infancy in music education. This article presents a new way to think about pedagogy that utilizes student workgroups that more closely align with the ways songs are written in the real world. Implications for music education's connections to the world of contemporary commercial music are provided.

Many music theory courses make use of a textbook with an accompanying anthology of musical examples. Some anthologies include recorded examples, and some do not. Many books address the topics of eighteenth-century theory with exercises for the student to complete at the end of each chapter. This article proposes a music theory pedagogy that honors…

This article offers the thoughts and comments of ensemble students performing music composed by women, African Americans, LGBTQ+ persons, and those who are minoritized in their own countries or regions. The student reflections suggest the potential roles music education might play in helping students reflect on issues of diversity, equity, and…

Music students, their teachers, composers, and school communities experience deep, long-lasting growth in music-making and artistic perspective when provided with opportunities to engage in the commissioning of new musical works in conjunction with composer residencies. Through consideration of relevant literature and case-study examination, the…

In this article, we situate songwriting in elementary spaces as a vehicle for personal and musical expression and informed by popular music practices. We offer insights for how educators can anchor students' work by encouraging them to create songs for a specific purpose like shedding light on social issues relevant to their lives. This article…

Modern band programs have spread throughout the United States to create learner-centered and culturally affirming school music experiences for children. The four key concepts of modern band, (1) approximation and scaffolding, (2) decision-making, (3) iconic notation, and (4) culturally sustaining (music education), are congruent with many…

The future of American music education may be found in its past--a time when music teachers instilled lifelong amateur music-making in their students. There are differences between amateur and professional musicianship, and the focus of American music education shifted from amateurism to semiprofessionalism in the mid-twentieth century. An…

February 12, 1924, is a landmark date in the annals of American music. The story of that snowy afternoon in New York has become almost legendary -- and the tale has undoubtedly become embellished in its telling and retelling over the past 100 years. The occasion was a concert titled "An Experiment in Modern Music," presented by Paul…

Much like an effective speaker, a flexible musician is competent across multiple settings. The sociolinguistic theory of code-switching can be a useful tool to better understand how musicians acquire a set of skills and knowledge to support music-making in a range of activities in and outside of school and throughout society. In this article,…

One way to build a comprehensive, inclusive, and equitable music education is through the inclusion of popular music in curricula. However, it can be challenging for teachers to bring popular music into the classroom for many reasons. We suggest that since many teachers are educated in the Orff Schulwerk approach, this can be one way to teach…

Recognizing that music teachers may struggle to implement songwriting activities in a classroom, and that iconic notation provides an opportunity to increase access to school music for all students, the purpose of this article is to share one model of songwriting activities in a music technology class using chord diagrams, beat grids, and keyboard…

Composition is an important and creative part of any child's music education, yet many music educators feel unprepared to teach composition to students with special needs. This article explores the value of incorporating music composition in a special education classroom and outlines two compositional lessons based on creating a musical scenery.…

As musicians, we have been taught to idolize certain figures in music history. These individuals are considered untouchable, unassailable, and unquestionably brilliant. This practice is increasingly evident in jazz. Figures like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis have all undergone a virtual apotheosis. While there is…

Is it time to retire the "female composer" label? While music educators would perhaps like to think society is beyond the need for such labels, gender inequity exists in programming, publisher's offerings, and college programs. This article considers some of the arguments advanced to explain these inequities and the social/systemic…