In this article, the author describes the evolution of a promising practice, his story of how he developed theory out of his teaching experiences. He tells his story in support of educators who struggle to bring meaning, joy, and understanding to children who are currently being stifled by prescriptive and restrictive regulatory mandates that…

Reported discourse--as theorized by Bakhtin, bringing the voices of others into our own writing through quotation, citation and paraphrase, as well as more subtle means--is at the heart of all academic writing, including basic writing. This article, both in its texture and its analysis, demonstrates that reported discourse must be regarded, and…

Describes the Contemporary Music Analysis Package (CMAP), a set of programs for atonal and serial music that is used for analysis, modeling, and composition of contemporary music in an interactive computing environment. The data structure is explained, examples are given, and a glossary of technical terminology is provided. (12 references) (LRW)

This paper focuses on a tool for meaningful, collaborative, interaction in a constructionist music composition environment. In particular, it describes the design and implementation of ''Networked DrumSteps'', an application that allows multiple users in different locations to collaborate in the process of music composition, but without the use of…

Shows the insights that a sensitive composer and performer can bring to the study of Indian music. After Humphreys listened, learned, and sang with several Pueblo composers to learn their ideas and techniques, he composed a song to see what an Indian musician would do with it. (ERB)

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.…

The composer of an opera for elementary students describes his composition and the process of taking it out to the schools of southern Ohio. This article is part of a theme issue on opera. (SJL)

The article presents lessons for teaching composition in elementary general music classes. Students will be more successful in composition activities if a teacher allows time for multiple encounters with composition activities, encourages student experimentation, guides the class through composition experiences, provides constant encouragement,…

Writing and speaking are essential means of understanding, studying, and sharing music in the Western art music tradition. The papers presented in this symposium were the outgrowth of authors' dialogue during the summer of 2004. Each of them worked independently, yet each of them was also aware of the direction, the themes, and the ways of the…

The Music Information System for Theorists (MIST) allows musicians to find pedagogical music excerpts with ease and speed. Users may search for excerpts using as keys composer, date, and/or musical concept exhibited. The desired excerpts are printed in conventional music notation or output in MUSTRAN code via the Indiana University Computer Music…

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)

Presents a musical play designed to orient students to standardized tests by promoting appropriate test-taking skills and attitudes. Suggests effective staging techniques. (ABB)

This paper addresses the simplification of music as a way to introduce all beginners to making music. Creative play is emphasized to encourage students to feel ownership of the music they create. Suggestions are given for improvisation to known songs with small guitars, ukuleles and dulcimers. The paper advocates a return to the roots of music…

Describes how students listen to the stories of a retirement home and write tribute songs based on the stories. Notes that because students are accustomed to a classroom life of telling stories and listening to stories, it is easy for them to enter into the story-worlds of their elders, to connect with words and to piece together stories. (SG)

In this article, the author asks music educators to imagine their band students being able to identify the melody of a piece as it jumps among sections after playing it just a few times. How about recognizing harmonic modulation, or applying dynamic contrast through understanding of compositional form? While these elements may seem obvious to…