The staff of a nonprofit music support organization plagued with low morale initiated a process of change that the executive director, with the help of a consultant/adult educator, agreed to continue. The change process included seven phases: discovery of need, the helping relationship defined, the change problem identified, goals established,…

Performing Arts Psychology has recently emerged as a unique subspecialty comparable to that of Sports Psychology. Attention has been focused on problems common to all performers (e.g., performance anxiety); however, the various stresses within each art form often remain hidden from view. To assess the psychological aspects of different art forms,…

This article presents the results of research into methods and scorings for jazz assessment in Trinity College of Music, London, focusing on the possibility of introducing group assessment. It considers the advantages of group assessment methods, contrasting these with the more traditional approach, firmly established in conservatoires, of…

How can we use practice time in the best possible way? Do we, as performers, have a keen enough awareness of the workings of our mind and body to be sure we are learning in the optimum way for secure performance? If not, how can we readily convey to others good habits for learning and memorisation? By demonstrating aspects of how experienced solo…

The article describes an established operation combining the ideas of a trade school and a fine arts school, graduating technically proficient and creative musicians with basic business skills. The school provides community, the teacher is responsible for maintaining educational coherence, and the student is responsible for defining his needs. (AJ)

Gypsy music is an example of the way Gypsies absorb and relate to the culture in which they live. The music that Gypsies play has two social dimensions. In the exoteric dimension, "folk" music performed by paid Gypsy musicians varies as to its rhythm, style, and content from country to country, year to year, person to person. Their…

One of six student guidebooks in a series of 11 arts and humanities career exploration guides for grade 7-12 teachers, counselors, and students, this student book on exploration of writing careers presents information on specific occupations in five different career areas: Performing musicians, technology in music, arts management, the music…

The bibliography lists over 400 works in the California State University Library, Sacramento, on pop, rock, country, folk, blues, and soul music from 1950 to the present. Books, periodicals, and non-book materials noted in the bibliography are appropriate for history, communication studies, and popular culture studies as well as for music. Items…

The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, a popular, long-lived, all-female jazz band of the 1940s, were the first racially integrated women's band in America. Their achievement has been largely neglected by music historians. A brief history of the band is presented, and their significance is discussed. (BJV)

Presents a study that investigated the significance of the octave-equivalence assumption, an essential assumption to the notion of "pitch class" and the analysis and pedagogy of all music in the Western tradition. Discusses development and organization of experimental items and describes the method of presentation. (GEA)

This publication provides orchestra teachers with techniques for conducting, choosing repertoire, program development, recruiting, playing styles, and preparing for competitions. It is the latest in MENC's popular Spotlight series, comprising articles that have appeared in state MEA journals. It is made up of 9 sections, and has a total of 53…

This report attempts to set down the collective thought of 31 musicians, scholars, and teachers who met during the Seminar on Music Education, held at Yale University from June 17 through June 28, 1963, intent on improving elementary and secondary school music. The participants represented a cross-section of professional interests in music and…

Presents the biography of Clarence C. Birchard, a music and textbook publisher, who published The Laurel Song Book, which was instrumental in introducing children to contemporary American music. Outlines the variety of contributions Birchard made toward music development. (RK)

Teacher applies a creative approach to teaching music to elementary school students. (RK)

Describes music participation by children as an important facet of elementary music experiences. (RK)