The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the process of composing educational music. As part of a research project titled "Sound Connections: Composing Educational Music" Canadian composers completed email interviews, responding to semi-structured questions about the process of composing educational music. Using…

The ability to recognize and distinguish among varying musical styles is essential to developing aural skills and musicianship. Yet, this task can be difficult for music learners, particularly nonexperts. To address this challenge and guide music education practice, this study drew on cognitive psychological principles to investigate the effect of…

Points out the inherent problem that may keep teaching of twentieth-century music analysis from being effective. Since the students' frame of reference for music listening is usually "traditional" music practices, they are often unprepared to hear and analyze twentieth-century music. Suggests how to develop appropriate listening skills.…

Describes activities and exercises that develop children's music appreciation and general listening skills, preparing them for composing original lyrics and music. (RL)

Novice listeners have difficulty perceiving form in music because they experience music episodically, not holistically; and because conditioned by popular music to respond emotionally, they see no reason for intellectual analysis. To achieve aesthetic literacy, students must be taught both analytic and aesthetic perception, utilizing both brain…

Encourages the use of integrated prereading, prewriting, and critical thinking activities in music classes to help students appreciate and understand the process of musical composition. Discusses using freewriting, journal writing, directed reading, and extended activities in music appreciation, performance, and composition classes. (SKC)

This syllabus/handbook is designed to aid teachers and administrators in developing a music course to meet the New York State Commission of Education's requirements for a one year high school Music In Our Lives (MIOL) class. This class encompasses the areas of listening, performing, composing, using basic tool skills, and developing special…