Students with disabilities may require specific assistive technology to use their strengths to compensate for a weakness or need caused by the disability, including both "devices" and "services." As a result, teachers need to be able to use and support students while using assistive technology during instruction. Teachers also…

Improvisation-based exercises may be the key to unlocking students' innate musical creativities. This article focuses on two exercises--drone improvisation and circle stringing--that can be easily integrated into the orchestra curriculum and adapted to the learning needs of the individual student, small-ensemble, and large-ensemble settings. Of…

This article describes a sequential approach to improvisation teaching that can be used with students at various age and ability levels by any educator, regardless of improvisation experience. The 2014 National Core Music Standards include improvisation as a central component in musical learning and promote instructional approaches that are…

Before our current notation system was widely adopted by musicians, improvisation was a key component of music throughout the Western world. One of the fundamental elements of the baroque style, namely, using improvised embellishment, offered musicians great artist liberty. During the baroque period, improvisation spread across Europe and beyond.…

In the "Divertimento" section of "Teaching Music," teachers share stories, strategies, and quesitons with their colleagues. This "Divertimento" covers the following topics: (1) one teacher's surprise at a student's novel take on the tambourine; (2) a question about teaching bowing symbols to beginning students; and (3) a question about breaking…

Describes how to use ensembles of recorders and other folk instruments in elementary school music classes. The importance of improvisation and aural training in mixed ensembles is stressed. (AM)

This book is the first comprehensive resource devoted to steel band pedagogy, it is a must-have for anyone involved in the steel band idiom today. Written primarily for educators, the book addresses a wide variety of topics, including instrumentation, personnel, basic pan technique, repertoire, and rehearsal strategies. This informative text…

Points out the value of a favorable music curriculum for children two to eight years of age, advocating an emphasis on and providing guidelines for programs in vocal development, instrumental skills, and music appreciation in early childhood curricula. (RH)

Presents a rationale for using handbells and discusses their application to elementary, junior high, high school, special education, and college music programs. (SJL)

This book provides both new and experienced music educators with much-needed advice drawn from credible research and established approaches, but also includes practical application for the incredible variety of music classrooms that teachers face today. Kevin Mixon adapts research-based theories to fit typical situations that are not always ideal.…

Care of musical instruments should be a part of every student's music education. What students should know about caring for pianos is discussed. The main parts of the piano--the cabinet, the mechanical part, the musical part, and the structure--are discussed. Tuning and pitch raise are also discussed. (RM)

The Indian flute can be used by teachers to supplement classroom study of Indian culture. Indians used it as a personal instrument. Describes how an Indian flute can be made, and suggests improvising bird calls and melodies on it. (CS)

The author states that in a melody/harmony/rhythm sense, improvising on a synthesizer is no different from improvising on any other instrument. The capabilities of synthesizers are described, and exercises and methods to be used with synthesizers are outlined. (KC)

Presented is the rationale and a method for developing a graded brass quintet in grades 5 through 12. A suggested brass quintet repertoire, arranged from easy to difficult, is included. (KC)

Describes the Suzuki method of teaching which introduces young children to music and the violin so they can progress, after years of study, into standard violin literature. States that this method provides a base upon which the young violinist can develop musical maturity. (GEA)