The overlapping of pragmatic philosophy and the Aristotelian concept of praxis is explored with application to music and music education. John Dewey's philosophy of "Art as Experience" is contrasted with tacit aesthetic assumptions about music that music teachers often hold as a result of the aesthetic meme inherited from their…

This qualitative research examines the influence of learning Javanese gamelan on aspects of musicianship, attitudes and approaches relating to the learning and performance of Western instruments experienced by a sample of UK university music students. In addition to benefits to musicianship, students delineated positive developments in attitudes…

Explains exactly how great an impact American music and musicians have had abroad, and how overly cautious we tend to be in recognizing our own gifts. (Editor/RK)

Compares some inadequate and uninteresting music with music that is creative and stimulating, and considers the musical values of audiences. (RK)

Presents results of a study of whether undergraduate music majors would prefer sequenced piano music to recordings of actual performances. Finds no significant differences between ratings for technical merit, artistic merit, and overall impression. Finds recording quality ratings higher for sequenced pieces. Suggests that sequencing may allow an…

The author reviews major styles of secular Western music from the early Middle Ages through the sixteenth century, pointing out features that would appeal to a modern audience. A selected list of published collections of early music is appended. (SJL)

Discusses the lack of awareness students have in considering classical music and presents methods for kindling their interests in a music form relatively unknown to them. (RK)

Explains that in order to achieve a balance between the goals of preparing music for performance and developing capable musicians during choral rehearsals, teachers should employ four rehearsal techniques: (1) the Whole/Part/Whole approach; (2) discovering relationships within compositions; (3) repetition with meaning; and (4) gesture-based…

This 9-week, Quinmester program is a survey of music in the jazz idion, particularly major musicians and their music of the last two decades. No musical prerequisites are necessary. Objectives include the ability to distinguish major performers, the blues form, instruments, major compositions and to become aware of jazz as an American art form,…

The three approaches of Carl Orff, Zoltan Kodaly, and Shinichi Suzuki to early childhood education can be successfully fused to provide a foundation for a total music curriculum from the nursery to secondary school. Basically, Orff suggests that rhythmic patterns should be experienced in children's natural language as they improvise melodies and…

Attempts a deeper understanding of, and justification for, music education by concentrating on its application in two historic periods. Contrasts the utilitarian approach of Greek civilization with the religious and liturgical concepts of the Medieval period. Asserts that historical awareness is an integral component of music education. (MJP)

Presents 44 entries from a modern composer and music professors' journal, culled from 1993 to the present. Includes comments and criticisms of composers and musicians, as well as philosophical and practical observations. (MJP)