Songwriting is a form of composition that relates directly to adolescents' personal experience of music. This article provides a rationale for establishing courses in songwriting at the middle school and high school levels. Other topics in the article include curriculum development, instructional procedures, and assessment. The article ends with…

In music education, current attention to student-centered approaches for learning affects our understanding of student assessment. This view to curriculum reform requires new perspectives for assessment. There is a need to move beyond the summative use of assessment to assign grades to examining the roles of assessment in supporting and enhancing…

Addresses the creation of national standards for music education in Lithuania. Provides background information on the role of music in Lithuania. Explains that in 1997 a group of music educators helped develop the standards. Demonstrates that the proposed standards will be easily implemented since they were being practiced in the classroom…