Administrators of schools without music programs are simply undervaluing this fine art form and depriving students of a great life experience. Schools can accommodate the arts by managing time better and scheduling more periods per day. A strong positive correlation exists beween school excellence and vigorous, dynamic arts programs. Nine…

As a teacher, conductor, adjudicator, and composer, the Danish immigrant Carl Reinhardt Busch educated the citizens of Kansas City and other cities to a higher level of music comprehension and appreciation. He contributed significantly to the development of music education and should be recognized in its history. (SR)

Explores which styles, genres, and trends in contemporary music are most popular among 15 year-old high school students in the German Democratic Republic. Contends that such information is important for helping teachers improve planning and instruction in music education classes. (RKM)

The teaching of music-related leisure skills to secondary students with disabilities is discussed. Areas of discussion include the limits of music education programs; music-related skills that can be taught in the classroom (including accessing, appreciating, and engaging in musical experiences); and teaching music-related skills (including…

Rap, a popular music that emerged in the United States during the 1980s and 90s, is described as a creation of young African American culture. It belongs to a centuries old legacy of using language creatively in everyday life. The roots of the music are seen as part of the African-American oral and musical traditions that encompass the hidden…

This field experiment examined three responses of ninth and tenth grade students to attending symphony performances at school. Responses were attitudes toward the performance, later information seeking about the art form, and interest in obtaining a recording of symphonic works offered four weeks after the concert. Pre-concert experimental…

Presents a variety of approaches to help students develop understanding and positive attitudes toward the complexities of electronic sounds. (Part of a theme issue on aspects of contemporary music.) (Author/SJL)

Discusses the use of imagination as a tool to improve students' musicianship. Suggests that imagery can be used to teach intonation, tone color, sight-reading, and expression. Describes active listening in which the students must use musical memory and participate in musical expression to produce a certain sound that may be difficult to describe.…

Discusses negative experiences which can inhibit a student from wanting to sing and describes methods that a secondary teacher can use to enhance student self-esteem while increasing their music appreciation. (AM)

Focuses on repertoire selection, addressing issues such as beginning the process, keeping lists and resources for future use, seeing concerts as sharing experiences, and problems to avoid. Discusses the importance of networking and offers suggestions for enabling music educators to grow as teachers. (CMK)

The material in this teacher's guide for a high school elective course may be used in a variety of curriculum designs--from a mini elective to a full year course. The rationale section explains that folksinging can be a valuable activity in the classroom by: 1) presenting a mirror for the student's personality and by being a useful tool for…

Music study should be construed primarily as an experience of its feeling content. Taught so, it can reach for the inner core of the early adolescent, to pierce that sometimes hard outer surface that protects the vulnerable inner life. Attempts to intellectualize music with young teens are doomed. (Author/SJL)

Instead of the traditional emphasis on performance by a few, music programs should also include composition and appreciation and embody experiences in aesthetic education for the entire student body. These experiences could include musicianship and music history, literature, structure, organization, and performance. (JM)

Points out that high school band programs are often geared toward entertainment and the short-term reward of competitive recognition. Suggests the goal should be toward the development of musical skills including understanding, creating, and appreciating the art of music. Suggests how band programs can contribute to the music education curriculum.…

Describes a summer school program in which secondary students collaborated to build an opera company. Details the activities of seven days in the first stage of the three-stage project. Concludes that the experience built democratic values. (CFR)