This paper discusses a project in which third-year undergraduate Performance majors were asked to assess their second-year peers. The impetus for launching the project came from some stirrings of discontent amongst a few students. Instead of finding the assessment of their peers a manageable task, most students found the breadth of musical focus,…

Discusses methods for teaching instrumental music skills to educable mentally handicapped children. The author advocates consistent rules for equipment handling and playing position, frequent positive feedback from teachers, private lessons, rote-learning of music, and group playing experiences. Appropriate music training significantly improved…

It is suggested that a secondary school vocal or instrumental music director, even one with a limited background in early music, can establish a successful early music consort, but before establishing such a consort, the director should review thoroughly the main historical sources. These sources are listed. (KC)

Addresses the importance of focusing on instrumental music basics for any age level of students. Describes three warm-up exercises to use with students that emphasize three skills: (1) breathing in and out properly; (2) practice with tonguing; and (3) practice with the finger technique. (CMK)

Rainsticks are African and South American musical instruments that recreate the soothing sounds of rain. They were originally made of bamboo or dried cacti tubes. Inside the tubes are small river pebbles and cactus thorns. The longer the tube, the longer-lasting the "music." This article gives instructions for making both a large and…

Discusses the importance of focusing Internet searches for world music resources. Importance of teaching about music from various cultures; Benefits of identifying a characteristic instrument by name or stylistic terms; Types of music web sites.

Since--and even before--the National Standards for Music Education were published, music educators have tried to balance the expectations associated with the traditional performance curriculum and contemporary models of music education. The Standards-based curriculum challenges directors to consider how student experiences and learning can be…

Marching band, madrigal choir, orchestra, jazz band, mixed chorus, and the annual musical are just a few of the activities that may be part of a high school's music program. Consequently, if the choir, band, and orchestra directors come together to develop goals that all ensembles can share, this cooperation can enhance the effectiveness of the…

This curriculum and instructional plan for Canadian schools is based on a study of the tradition of steelbands of Trinidad. The primary aim of the study was to move toward understanding how Trinidadian people view, experience, explain, and order specific elements of their musical world. The study proposed a curriculum and instructional plan for…

The Music Division of the Library of Congress houses a collection that numbers close to eight million items including the classified music and book collections; music and literary manuscripts; microforms; and copyright deposits. This guide shows the highlights of the collection, as well as its mission. The Library of Congress embraces the complete…

The MusicSystem is a sixteen-voice digital synthesizer consisting of a music editor, music player, music merger, and instrument definer. The system is appropriate for upper grade elementary school students and disabled students and is also sophisticated enough to accommodate advanced research and composition by professionals. (KC)

Compares the experience of playing an acoustic instrument to an electronic instrument by analyzing the constant structures and relationships between the experiences. Concludes that students' understanding of the physical experience of making music increases when experiences with acoustic instruments precede their exposure to electronic…

Illinois State University (ISU), located in central Illinois, serves a large population of rural, suburban, and urban students. students are predominantly white. The music education curriculum requires multicultural music study, and students have opportunities for authentic experiences. During the semester before this course, students in…

This article presents technology tips and ideas for music educators. To keep current with music technology, you will need to spend time with it regularly, just like you would practice a musical instrument or voice. Basic office software programs can help you with administrative tasks and duties. Your computers are important tools for your program,…

The author shares her experience when she accepted an invitation from Jianhua Lu, a music teacher and a visiting scholar at the University of Minnesota, to spend two weeks teaching teachers in China. While there, she gave presentations at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and at the Northwest Normal University in Lanzhou and Tianshui…