There are currently very few brass bands in schools in Australia, however they were the predominant music ensemble in Australian schools up to the 1970s. The aim of this article is to document the popularity of British-style brass bands in Australia, and the corresponding development of brass bands in schools during the 20th century. The history…

This article explores gender dynamics in popular music education, focusing on the perspectives of modern band teachers across the United States. Drawing from existing literature and a survey of 390 modern band educators, the study examines the extent to which modern band teachers perceive their own gender identities influence student participation…

This study was designed to fill a need to explore the hypothesis that students who participate in middle school bands and or chorus have higher math cognitive functioning than their non-music peers. Using the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP), this study identified specific math domains that middle school music students showed higher functioning…

Practice occupies an essential and significant place in every musician's life, yet the practice habits of highly experienced, professional musicians, remain under-researched. As such, this study sought to contribute to the emerging body of knowledge into professional musicians' practice. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with six such…

Ukuleles are becoming more widespread in Montessori classrooms. In this article, the authors answer questions teachers may have about having a uke in their classroom, such as: "How do I start?" "Where would I buy an instrument?" "What do I look for?" "What's it going to cost?" "How long will it…

Group teaching is rapidly spreading across the world, but little research has been conducted to investigate its impact on students' musical abilities in comparison to inclusion in group tuition contexts. This article investigates how music teachers from the classical orchestra instrumental tradition discuss group tuition. Three focus group…

This paper presents the results of a research conducted in a group of Youth Palace in Olsztyn participants. Two different keyboards were used in the experiment to teach how to recognize the timbres of selected musical instruments. Obtained results clearly showed that musical education with the use of keyboards significantly develops timbre hearing…

This research studied prevalence, manifestation, and associated factors of Music Performance Anxiety (MPA) in school band directors. Band directors (N = 625) who were members of the National Association of Music Education (NAfME) completed the survey which included the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI) and demographic questions.…

The purpose of this study was to examine instrumental music lessons taught for schoolchildren over the radio by Joseph Maddy in the 1930s and early 1950s. Research questions addressed (a) conditions, circumstances, and details surrounding the lessons and (b) pedagogical principles, strategies, methods, and didactic materials utilized in these…

The human voice is an alive, natural instrument belonging to the human body and most beautiful tool for the individual to express himself. When evaluated from a musical point of view; the human voice, the first known musical instrument in the history of music, is the oldest, most natural and most valuable of musical instruments. This privileged…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of focus of attention instructions (i.e. focus on the solo, accompaniment, or collaboration) on listeners' performance evaluations. Participants (N = 159) were inservice band directors who listened to and evaluated the accuracy and expressivity of four excerpts of Haydn's "Concerto for…

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of music educators' perceptions of ways in which marching band and college music education curricula connect. By examining the music educators' perceptions, the study hoped to influence existing collegiate music education programs by providing possible avenues of interdisciplinary…

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a singing-aural imitation treatment on collegiate instrumentalists' jazz performance achievement and self-efficacy to play and teach jazz and improvisation. A secondary purpose was to investigate to what extent various background variables might relate to jazz improvisation…

Historically, the piano gained significance over the years with the performance techniques that composers put forward in their works. In parallel with this developmental journey, the improvement of the art of interpretation led to the emergence of new playing techniques throughout periodical changes. The romantic era can be presented as an example…

In this qualitative study, we share the musical experiences of seven Ghanaian university music students who primarily play a brass instrument in a university band. The purpose of this study is to illuminate these students' musical experiences during their pre-tertiary years to better understand what those experiences were and how they impacted…