Ensemble directors have a special interest in helping students learn to practice effectively. Practice is also an essential component of musical development. Music educators need to both teach effective practice strategies and guide students toward meaningful, thoughtful practice. Metacognition strategies are one way to accomplish this. Current…

Authors served up a variety of techniques for investigating sound sources and sound patterns. Have you considered creating a composition from breathing sounds? Or constructing a conversation in percussion? These ideas are included along with step-by-step directions for making nine percussion instruments. (Editor)

Article discussed a teacher's experiences with bitonality using rock music to teach chord identification. (Editor/RK)

Little real consensus exists among voice teachers on methodologies to achieve good vocal technique. Nevertheless, voice teachers can profit from sharing their ideas. In this first of a three part series, eight prominent voice teachers offer their views on a wide range of technical questions. (Author/RK)

To develop listening skills for all types of music, teachers may want to try some of these imaginative teaching techniques. Describes some unconventional ear-training exercises, vocal exercises to encourage students to "paint with their voices", and "rebound" exercises to explore spontaneous relationships between sound and movement. (Editor/RK)

Article offers a guide to developing an inexpensive musique concrete electronic studio and a short, chronological discography of representative compositions. (Author/RK)

Suggests methods for music teachers to use in helping at-risk students gain confidence in electronic music composition class. Recommends that at-risk students be given leadership roles and worked with on an individual basis. Emphasizes maintaining a supportive, nonthreatening, and creative classroom environment where students can feel positive and…

The author examines three problems that must be solved if music education is to continue in schools: 1) What should be done to adapt the jargon of music for student understanding? 2) How can antipathy toward performance by students be overcome? 3) What types of music materials should be used? (Author/RK)

Article presents the case for student musical composition in high school and suggests ways to initiate the creative process. (RK)

Reviews research results describing students' learning experiences and effective teaching methods. Addresses topics of music selection, influencing student preferences, and developing student perception and descriptive skills. Includes a 26-item bibliography of these studies. (NL)

Analyzes factors that affect listening as it relates to school band and orchestra rehearsal. Suggest that music selection, rehearsal atmosphere, and techniques that isolate specific sounds and musical elements best help students develop music listening skills. Urges conductors to promote students' active involvement in rehearsals by balancing…