Most music educators are unaware that one of the earliest known electronic music keyboards for children dates back to 1952. It was unsophisticated in appearance, but much like the inventions of today, the mid-century electronic musical toy piqued the interest of children, and they begged their parents to buy it for them. The invention was named…

For the past century and more, music education in the United States has focused primarily on Western European music traditions. Despite considerable efforts to include music from other regions and peoples in the curriculum, traditional music from world cultures is still not greatly represented. The benefits of a curriculum that incorporates…

Background: Educational guidelines and reforms focused on literacy, including No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), have contributed to a music education culture and climate focused on language literacy rather than on the core content literacies inherent in music itself. Purpose: The purpose of this…

In this article, the authors first address "why" it is beneficial for young people to have the opportunity to be involved in music, and to pursue the development of their musical talent to the fullest. Then, they discuss "how" musically talented young people can be supported in their musical endeavors, drawing on the authors' research to provide…

This study explores the utility of movement analysis technology as a means of contributing to a performance pedagogy informed in part by science. Two research questions were investigated: Can biomechanical skills needed for performance on the violin be accurately and objectively characterized and generalized? Can these data be used to inform…

Professional early childhood educators are often asked for advice about whether or when a young child should learn to play a music instrument. Many educators who do not have a background in music education may not be confident in providing such advice. A range of overseas research has supported learning a music instrument in the early childhood…

Author explained how a science museum, the Exploratorium in San Francisco, has organized lively and informal exhibits to involve visitors in "puzzles of perception". (Editor/RK)

GRADES OR AGES: Intermediate Grades. SUBJECT MATTER: Music. ORGANIZATION AND PHYSICAL APPEARANCE: This guide has been developed to help the classroom teacher supplement the program of the music specialist. There are three main sections: Section 1 includes general concepts of music that the specialists will cover and has subsections on rhythm,…

Presents the basic principles of two systems for notating African music and dance: Labanotation (created to record and analyze movements) and Greenotation (created to notate musical instruments of Africa and to parallel Labanotation whereby both music and dance are incorporated into one integrated score). (KH)

This list of piano music by American composers is the sixth and final project in a series of lists prepared by the MENC Bicentennial Commission. (Editor/RK)

Inherent in the basic principles of the symphonic wind ensemble concept are several important concepts about seating--concepts that are intended to apply only to the seating of a full symphonic wind ensemble and not to small or large chamber ensembles. (Author/RK)

Discusses a new series of record albums of antique Spanish music. (SK)

Creative teaching should be used to motivate small children to appreciate and understand the beauty of music. (CK)

Reports the results of a study that investigated patterns of judgmental discriminations and preferences with regard to tone quality versus intonation of accompanied flute and oboe duet performances of simple melodies among music and nonmusic graduate and undergraduate students. (AM)