Evidence found throughout the history of Western European art music reveals traditions that encompassed improvisation. This furthers the idea that without improvisation, music education based on canonized works of Western European art music is incomplete. When the goal of music education is to preserve works exactly as notated, improvisation…

Historically, music programs in K-12 schools have emphasized performance opportunities for children and young people. Until the release of the 1994 National Standards in Music, targeted instruction in composition was frequently overlooked due to the emphasis on performance as well as the expectations of what a school music program ought to produce…

Educators need to develop teaching strategies that allow children to explore creative musical processes that will nurture musical skills, self-awareness, and imagination. A sequence of five lessons encompassing language arts and music demonstrates how students can develop creativity by writing haiku and then composing music to accompany the poems.…

This study tested the following hypothesis: that the study of original music composition confers benefits on the college music student which he would not ordinarily receive from the undergraduate music program, and that such study would therefore be a valuable addition to a music curriculum. Seven participants at a 3-week workshop in composition…

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