There is a long history of debate over what opera is. Since it's more or less formal beginning in the sixteenth century as a reconstruction of ancient drama, opera as an art form has been controversial. The received understanding--emphasized by the genre's founders and in periodic efforts at reforming the standards of composition and…

This study investigates age-related changes in musical preference in elementary school children. The tolerance towards unconventional musical styles has been called "open-earedness" (Hargreaves, 1982a), and it is assumed to decline with increasing age. Musical preferences of 186 students from grade 1 to 4 (age range: 6-10 years) were…

Article discusses why music educators need to understand aesthetics--the philosophical inquiry that seeks to answer questions about the nature of music and its value for human life. (Author/RK)

If blacks are to be serious about rediscovering and redefining their heritage in the fine arts, they must develop an appropriate and exemplary literature for students, educators, and laymen alike. (Author/RJ)

Although the nature of the relationship of music on students' emotional development remains an issue for continued research, my overall purpose is to provide adults with research-based methods to help children become better consumers of hip-hop music. First, I identify research-based recommendations to prepare adults as facilitators of children's…

This paper focuses on the relationship between the cognitive and affective aspects of listening to various music styles. The document describes two cross-sectional studies of the same sample of 275 subjects drawn from 5 age groups (9-10 years; 14-15 years; 18-24 years; 25-49 years; and 50+ years). The first study deals with the development of…

This book addresses the nature of music education and argues for a broad-based view which is globally inclusive and acknowledges a long, distinguished history. The book asserts that music education has often been too narrowly focused on music instruction in elementary and secondary schools. Through a process of intellectual questioning, the reader…

Inclusion of music in public school programs was originally justified on the utilitarian grounds that it fostered social and academic skills. Later an aesthetic rationale emphasized an intrinsic value of music in childrens' development. The position of music education will be precarious until educators provide strong evidence for their positions.…

This Quinmester, 9-week course of study is intended to develop discriminating listening habits as a preparation for intensive study of various specific periods of music (see SO 007 734-736). Some introductory work in music is suggested, with interest being the main criteria for selection of students. Twelve course objectives are listed involving…

Attempts to see whether children of a range of ages could use a Continuous Response Digital Interface (CRDI) dial to express feelings inspired by music, and to compare their responses with those of more musically experienced groups. Finds that younger children were successful and displayed varying correlations more than did experienced…

Reactions to attitude items from the first national assessment of music expressed by a panel of music educators during a two-day conference on implications of the entire assessment are reproduced in this report. The panel states that aesthetic sensitivity is the ultimate goal of music education; however, the attitude items in the assessment do not…

For nine years the National Assessment of Education Progress has attempted to measure behaviors that are assumed to correlate with sensitivity to music and analytic skills typically taught in the classroom. These skills included musical performance, ability to use traditional notation, ability to discriminate and label instruments and voices,…

Contends that music educators must develop a stronger rationale for music education in the face of economic pressures and questions about the value of aesthetic education. Argues that music educators must stress both the utilitarian and aesthetic objectives of music. Includes six basic rationale statements for music education. (CFR)

Since 1965 the National Assessment of Educational Progress has conducted a nationwide survey of musical abilities, during which 150 musical exercises have been administered to about 80,000 individuals in four age groups. Members of the Music Educators National Conference studied this survey to determine implications for the music teacher in terms…

An experimental course for the study of acoustics is taught at Hampshire College for students interested in the interface of physics and music. This paper outlines the course, describes the basic techniques it employs, gives examples of successful exercises, and discusses some difficulties not yet overcome. Computers are heavily utilized, removing…