Choral method textbooks include various strategies on when and how to introduce expression in song acquisition including vocal modeling. In two previous studies, participants who learned expressive elements early in a song-learning sequence (infused-expression) performed those elements more accurately than those who learned them at the end of the…

The purpose of this literature review was to synthesize research related to perceptions of choral tone and to provide implications for future research and praxis. Although considerable research exists on the topic of choral tone, choral music professionals have indicated contradictory philosophies of what makes "good" choral tone. To…

Previous research findings of assessment in choir indicated that teachers favor non-performance criteria such as attendance and attitude over music knowledge and skill. Music education researchers have encouraged teachers to instead use measurable learning goals that inform teaching practices and document student growth. New assessment…

Classroom management is reported to be among the greatest difficulties for beginning music educators. The purpose of this literature review was to examine extant research studies on the topic of classroom management in K-12 classroom music. Research topics included the components of classroom management, preservice and inservice teacher beliefs…

Evidence-based practice in education is the implementation of research-supported teaching tools to enhance students' learning. Retrieval practice is among the top performing learning techniques in scientific literature, with decades of research supporting its incorporation in educational contexts. Testing enhances posterior performance of the…

Music educators are exploring ways to implement peer-assisted learning in their classrooms in an effort to foster a more inclusive and collaborative learning environment. By observing students in peer teaching roles, teachers can gain information related to individual levels of social appropriateness as well as skill comprehension, and additional…

Elementary music educators use a variety of strategies in classroom instruction. The purpose of this case study was to explore student perceptions of Curwen hand signs, a common instructional strategy in elementary music classrooms. Second- and third-grade students reported various challenges, benefits, and influential factors surrounding hand…

In this literature review, I explore the research centered on co-teaching, including its history and evolution, labels and definitions, benefits and drawbacks, and working models, with the goal of making transfers to music teaching contexts. Established initially within an inclusive teaching framework as a result of governmental reforms,…

Music educators typically use a variety of strategies to teach their subject matter, one core practice of which is modeling. Vocal modeling is a type of aural demonstration, with uses ranging from pitch matching and song instruction to vocal tone building and musicianship development. In early studies, researchers primarily studied the effects of…

In a series of three video-recorded assignments over a 6-week period, undergraduate music education students (N = 16) enrolled in an instrumental methods course described aloud what they were thinking about as they practiced a three-note melody on a secondary brass instrument. Later, I completed a content analysis of the students' practice…

The purpose of this narrative action research study was to tell Marcus's story as an ensemble director learning how to teach composition in his middle school orchestra program. Marcus collaborated with Sam, a university professor, and designed a study to examine his teaching in his 49-member advanced orchestra class. As time passed, the focus of…

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine elementary general music teachers' familiarity with, agreement with, and perceptions of restorative justice practices. Participants (N = 49) included practicing elementary general music teachers who were members of the "California Music Educators Association," the "Florida Music…

Humility is an important social virtue for musicians as they expose their own egos in the pursuit of artistic self-expression. Research findings have confirmed that humility is an important virtue of strength that lends itself meaningfully to prosocial and ethical interactions among musicians and music educators. In this article, I synthesize…

Improvisation is an important element of global musical practices. However, musical improvisation is often neglected in K-12 and collegiate music education programs, with some music educators suggesting that improvisation cannot be taught. Rather, improvisation must be facilitated, enabled, and fostered. In this review of literature, I examined…

This research-to-resource article proposes and supports the application of sound-to-symbol approaches within the 5E instructional model to teach musical concepts experientially in beginning band settings. Drawing upon insights from music education scholars and pedagogues advocating for a shift toward sound-first approaches, the article explores…