The author considers the appropriate content of a "music appreciation" course and how both the diversities and commonalities of the world's musics can be presented in terms of the basic concepts of rhythm, harmony, melody, timbre, intensity, and form. (SJL)

Suggests that music listening and musical concepts such as tempo, melody, and form can be taught to students of any age by programed tapes with accompanying study guides. Provides instructions for recording such a tape and discusses appropriate content for the study guide. (SJL)

Argues that classroom learning requires teachers who are keenly aware of everything that poetry and art bring to human existence, as well as an environment that is stimulating and peaceful. Describes elements of successful classroom environments. Suggests methods for teaching poetry and for inspiring students to create paintings. (AJL)

Raises concerns about the music educator's approach to teaching pre-kindergarten children. Proposes a pre-kindergarten music curriculum model based on a synthesis of theories about the learning environment with the contributions of learning/play theorists and music educators. Provides a global to specific approach to interactive play periods. (LS)

Critiques musical learning in school bands, and points out the need to teach more than performance skills. Encourages band directors to use comprehensive musicianship teaching techniques, suggesting methods to help band students think musically. Provides workable, specific strategies for rehearsals. (LS)

Describes the Eakin School Project, developed in collaboration with the Nashville (Tennessee) Institute for the Arts (NIA), a five-year project begun in 1991 to make the arts and aesthetic education central to the kindergarten through grade six curriculum at the Eakin School. Students view performances in and around Nashville and are taught by…

Children can complement all areas of their language learning with music, and can enhance their musical activities with language. Opportunities to experience sounds, language, and rhythmic movement support the learning and development of the whole child. Activities dealing with children's books that have musical themes, song picture books, and…

Reports on a study of music listening preferences among undergraduate college music majors, high school musicians in performance groups, and sixth-grade students in eight U.S. sites. Finds instrumental biases among high school and college musicians' preferences for relatively unfamiliar classical music. (CFR)

Discusses parents' roles in introducing music to children before birth, in infancy, and throughout childhood. Children need encouragement to listen, enjoy, and explore sounds, music, and rhythm. Schools must continue the process of music education. The article includes a discussion of how parents can tell if schools are successfully exposing…

A project to introduce the music of different cultures into primary and secondary classrooms in London is reported. The six cultures are Indian music and dance, Latin American rock and steel pans, jazz, Indian drums, and Chinese music and movement. The project model is related to multicultural education in general. (Author/LB)

Presents results of a study in which music teachers and students with varying levels of experience and expertise evaluated musical performances. Finds differences in subjects with high levels of expertise are a result of more than experience. Concludes that developing an accurate measure for expertise would aid in obtaining the best role models as…

Reports on a study of third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students to identify and conceptualize meter in music. Finds that ability to perform these tasks improves with maturity and with use of hand gestures as well as verbal response. Concludes that it is important to match curriculum with the developmental levels of students. (CFR)

Employs Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, "The Nightingale," and the many lessons within it to help music educators design learning experiences that foster the development of musical expression. Conveys that without musical expression students' music will be mechanical, not unique and meaningful. (CMK)

Four articles address music and movement in early childhood education: (1) "For the Love of Music--and Children"(Cindy Smith); (2) "Music: The Great Connector" (Thomas Moore); (3) "Learning through Music: The Support of Brain Research" (Elizabeth B. Carlton); and (4) "Music and Movement Bring Together Children of…

Discusses a six month project where pre-K-4 students in a music class explored whether humans were the only beings on earth who could sing or were musical. Explains that the music and science teachers collaborated on this project enabling the students to create hypotheses and test their observations on animals' musical abilities. (CMK)