Students come to the music classroom with varying degrees of skill, interest, and comfort toward making music, yet educators must consider how to meet the needs of all students regardless of ability. Using differentiation as a framework, we examine how participatory music making (PMM) might meet these needs. We offer strategies for implementing…

How do we motivate students to practice and persist when facing challenges inherent in learning to play an instrument? In this article, I synthesize research findings into strategies to encourage students' mastery goal orientations and intrinsic motivation. Educators can use these strategies in the classroom or as inspiration to create innovative…

Multicultural choral music has distinct characteristics in that indigenous folk elements are frequently incorporated into a Western European tonal system. Because of this, multicultural choral music is often taught using Western styles (e.g., "bel canto") rather than through traditional singing techniques from their cultures of origin.…

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…

Analyzes the contents of doctoral research between 1936 and 1992 related to stringed instrument education. Examines "Dissertation Abstracts International" for year of completion, type of degree, instrument, and main topic. The most researched instrument was the violin and main topics included techniques and skills, performance practice, and…

Considers the dilemma of the instrumental specialist suddenly forced to take over general music class instruction. Advises keeping an open and flexible attitude while realistically appraising the situation. Provides a list of helpful tips and the comments of instrumentalists who found the experience to be a positive one. (MJP)

Profiles four middle school teachers maintaining early chamber music programs. The teachers advise varying degrees of musical competency before students begin the program, but all of them caution against starting too soon. They also stress the importance of purchasing early music scores and establishing rehearsal times. (MJP)