As part of the celebration of Manchester being the European City of Science 2016, schools across the City were invited to take part in a Citizen-Engineering project, which set out a quest to make a recycled robot orchestra. It is a unique project, which is an experiment itself--to bring people together to create, collaborate and care for the…

Playing Orff instruments provides students with a wide variety of opportunities to explore creative musicianship. This article examines the benefits of classroom instrument study, common challenges encountered, and viable teaching strategies to promote student success. The ability to remove notes from barred instruments makes note accuracy more…

This article provides general music teachers with resources they can use in their class to: (1) introduce the instrument to their students; (2) energize and reshape their students' attitudes toward the instrument; (3) show older students who are very musical recorder and low flute players who share their love of the instruments through podcasts…

Examines whether fourth grade students prefer band or nonband instrument timbre. Identifies differences between student preferences in the United States and Greece, examining how cultural differences influence instrumental timbre preferences. Reports that band instrument timbres often are preferred in the United States but are less so in Greece.…

Developed to acquaint students with the Honolulu (Hawaii) Youth Symphony Concerts program, this booklet focuses on information and activities to help make concert attendance meaningful and enjoyable for students. Goals and learning concepts are described, and information about each of the symphony's musical instruments is included. The chronology…

Recommends adding electronic keyboard to vocally based music curricula for elementary students. Argues that the keyboard provides a graphic representation for musical understanding. Suggests teaching keyboard in small, manageable, hierarchically structured steps. Offers suggestions from finger placement and creating sound effects in first grade to…

Discusses a study of the ability of 11 variables to predict performance, achievement, teacher evaluation, and retention of fifth grade beginning instrumentalists. Reports that scholastic ability and academic achievement tests were leading predictors of performance achievement. Concludes that socioeconomic status and self-concept played prominent…