Anthony Johnson Showalter (c. 1853-1924) was a music educator, gospel composer, publisher, and considered a pioneer in gospel music and education in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Showalter is notably mentioned in numerous texts and studies related to gospel music; however, little data has been collected regarding the…

Recent curriculum policy changes in British Columbia (BC) require that educators in all subject areas--including music--embed local Indigenous knowledge, pedagogies, and worldviews in their classes. Yet facilitating such decolonizing cross-cultural music education activities requires knowledge that music educators may not currently possess. We use…

There is an expected increase in the need to provide adequate string-specific training for non-string specialists in the future and for preservice music teachers to develop the requisite pedagogical content knowledge to teach a variety of instruments. A multiyear instrumental lab ensemble university course was designed to help preservice music…

Over the past several decades, music education scholars have put forth a variety of convincing rationales for world music education. Yet the gap between theory and practice in this area persists. In theoretical ways, practicing music educators acknowledge the value of world music learning experiences, but many remain reluctant to fully embrace and…

Informal learning practices, based on Lucy Green's research into how popular musicians learn, offer students in the music classroom the opportunity to explore collaborative, aural-based learning that is guided, rather than directed, by the teacher. Over a period of five years, informal learning projects were included in the music curricula of two…

This article focuses on selected outcomes of the European Association of Conservatoires (AEC) "Polifonia" Working Group for Instrumental and Vocal Teacher Training in Europe (2007-2010). The introduction provides the background to the project, explains the rationale and objectives, describes the research process and gives an overview of…

Recently, the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) general music forum was abuzz with comments about teacher hierarchy. Many general music teachers expressed dismay at not always receiving the respect they deserve from colleagues teaching ensembles at the secondary level. In this article, the author talks about the importance of…

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…

Music teachers, like their colleagues in other fields, are living through a paradoxical time in schools. Currents of change in education and society seem to pull teachers in contradictory directions. Nowhere is this flux more apparent than in curriculum. While teachers are called upon to differentiate teaching approaches to meet the diverse needs…

In this article, the author, an elementary music teacher with the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, offers suggestions for developing music materials for the open classroom. (Editor/RK)

American music educators are a major part of the continuing change in music curriculum that has been planned for public school music of presentday America. (Author/RK)

This K-12 music curriculum guide provides criteria for evaluating musical instructional programs and offers assistance to musical educators who wish to improve the content of their musical instructional programs. It is divided into three major parts, the first of which considers administrative implications and makes specific recommendations for…

Provides a thorough overview of middle school guitar instruction discussing both private and group lessons. Considers the role of the guitar as both a solo instrument and in ensemble and orchestra. Includes curricular guidelines for a beginning guitar course and a sample list of songs for a final recital. (MJP)

Describes a study of the content of 180 stringed-instrument preservice teacher education programs. Reports statistically significant findings for different regions of the country, with North Central division institutions requiring the greatest number of separate string technique and methods courses. (CFR)

The guide explains how to design a beginning guitar class for students in public schools. Part one discusses problems related to teaching guitar in a classroom setting. Teachers must have a clearly defined philosophy of the importance of music. Goals and objectives should emphasize the development of enlightened musical consumers as well as skills…