Describes benefits that can derive from the use of avant-garde music in a choral classroom. (Editor)

Describes how a student teacher used the Comprehensive Musicianship approach to introduce high school choruses to contemporary music. Choir students participated in the entire composition process from text selection to musical analysis of a choral work. Student discussion of the completed work reinforced their understanding of musical principles.…

Provides a selected list of contemporary performance literature suitable for middle school and junior high bands. Considers both quality and consistency, as well as the ability of a composition to remain interesting and challenging throughout rehearsal, as selection standards. Groups the 100 works according to difficulty level. (LS)

This book introduces music reading skills in 21 lessons that focus on the violin but which may be applied to the study of any musical instrument. The lessons are designed for beginning music students and build upon previous lessons in the book. This volume focuses on the violin because of the large number of students presently learning to play it…

Discusses how computer-generated music can be used as a starting point to explore the science of sound. Listings for programs which focus on pitch (including a pitch matching game), beat, and frequency are included. (JN)

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)

Recent developments affecting educational institutions provide guidelines: first, for the videotaping and use of television programs by nonprofit educational institutions and, second, for the copying of music. (Author/MLF)

Presents activities for discovering and exploring sound in the environment and for creating a "musical" composition from everyday sounds. (SJL)

Learning to read and write music should be as natural as learning to read and write the English language. Similar instructional models can be used for both. This was the premise for the investigation of 5-year-old Joel's musical development. Joel was the youngest of a four-member musical family. He was surrounded by musical literature and role…

Describes the functions and styles of film music and includes a bibliography, discography, a list of films on film music, and a list of five ways teachers can use this article. (Editor)

Describes features of five new software programs--Songwriter, Musical Ideas, Musicalc I, Musical Construction Set, Musicland, and Music Designer II--which facilitate musical composition and musical creativity in a variety of ways. Shortcomings are briefly discussed, and sources for further information are given. (MBR)

Three teaching units are presented as models for integrating the guitar in a comprehensive musicianship program. Designed for high school or college level, each emphasizes composition and improvisation. The units deal with the use of tremolo, quartal harmonic structure, and variation technique. Selected readings, music, and recordings are listed.…

The past, present and future of music improvisation is discussed. Resources for piano, guitar, elementary general music materials, and electronic music materials are included, along with addresses of publishers. The emphasis is on jazz. (KC)

Discusses the importance of teaching improvisation. Defines improvisation as the spontaneous generation of melody and rhythm without specific preparation or premeditation. Answers reasons for not teaching improvisation. Suggests training the ear, providing models, allowing for imitation, developing performance facility, guaranteeing success, and…

This collection of copyright policies from member libraries of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) contains: (1) ARL briefing papers on reproduction of copyrighted materials for classroom use and current issues in library photocopying; (2) university copyright policies from New York University, Rutgers University, University of…