This document, written in French introduces a group of Swiss researchers (Groupe des Chercheurs Romands) that has been examining music for beginning students. The specific focus of this study was the concept of creativity in music. The researchers are striving to alter the general perception of creativity as an inborn talent with no relationship…

Maintains that the ability and experience of improvisation is an essential component in young musicians' education. Discusses one teacher's trial-and-error efforts in introducing improvisational exercises into her students classical training. Includes a list of resources and representative musical examples. (MJP)

Provides some tips on jazz instruction for the beginning music educator who may not have had much experience in that field. Specifically recommends teaching guide tones, the root, third, and seventh chords, as an invaluable aid to jazz improvisation. Includes musical notation showing guide tones for two jazz standards. (MJP)

This book focuses on music as a subject relating to all other disciplines. "On the Teaching of Music," the first of 12 chapters, sets the theoretical and philosophical basis for a child-centered, subject-integrated teaching approach through autobiographical narrative. Chapter 2, "A Music Playground," advocates the presentation of materials and…