Describes three approaches for having students compose music to improve music education. Approaches include: (1) teacher-guided class composition; (2) small-group composition; and (3) individual free composition. As skills develop, students are motivated to learn to read, notate, and play their music. (LS)

Studies children's use of transformation (as a cognitive process) in identifying altered musical phrases in four phrase songs. Continuous Response Digital Interface (CRDI) software was used to record the children's responses. Includes statistical tables. (MJP)

Offers ideas for teaching musicians to be improvisors. Suggests that structure, organization, and continuity are problems that can be solved by learning to improvise. Recommends exercises in building phrases to help students acquire a sense of the developing whole. Concludes that improvisation can be taught by showing students how to teach…

Discusses the use of technology in music and music education for teachers. Describes resources that are available presently and how they may be used for performing, composing, research, and administration. Addresses areas where a gap exists between what is or should be available and the technology actually being used in classrooms. (DK)

Thirty-two high school students were categorized by creativity style (adaptor or innovator) and completed two musical composition problems involving two different degrees of problem-finding behaviors: an open, and a closed, problem. No significant differences due to problem type, creativity style, or the interaction of the two factors was found.…

Investigates whether the language characteristics of Northern Sotho and English song-texts have any effects on children's singing pitch and whether there are any differences between the Sotho- and English-speaking children's singing pitch. Demonstrates differences in children's singing pitch due to the languages of song-texts and linguistic…

Examines possible musical and sociocultural influences on decision-making by untrained 8- and 9-year-olds during open-ended, non-notated composing tasks through a classroom ethnography. Uses one of the 21 child-composers participating in this study as an illustrative case. Discusses the results and implications for teachers and researchers. (CMK)

Explores the importance of emotional expression in music performance. Performers played music to express different emotions and then listening tests were conducted in order to determine whether the intended expressions were perceived. Presents and discusses the results. (CMK)

Examines an effective method of curing tsumari, a phenomenon whereby the first note in a sequence of two eighth-notes is performed shorter than the second note. Considers two possible causes: (1) insufficient motor skill control and (2) a lack of steady beat perception. Reveals a reduction in tsumari after procedural instruction. (CMK)

Investigates how accurately children, ages 6-9 from England, Japan, Korea, Spain, and the United States, could match eight animal drawings to excerpts from the well-known concert music, "The Carnival of the Animals" by Charles Camille Saint-Saens. Indicates a mean correct response of 40% without instruction. Discusses two extension…

Explores whether the basic song repertoire of vocal/choral music education majors is significantly better than instrumental music education majors. Participants attempted to identify 25 standard songs. Reveals no significant difference between the two groups, indicating that neither had developed a strong repertoire of songs. (CMK)

Explains that by studying the music of Clara Schumann, music classes can learn about some of the musical forms, styles, and techniques of the Romantic period. Considers teaching strategies centered around Clara Schumann's "Variations on a Theme of Robert Schumann" and provides background information on her life. (CMK)

Provides a strategy, from the book entitled "Strategies for Teaching K-4 General Music," that addresses Standard 6A of the National Standards for Music Education. Explains that students will identify characteristics that enables them to make decisions about the form of the composition in listening examples longer than classroom songs.…

Over 80 isolated students in grades preK-7 participate in the Meekatharra School of the Air (MSOTA) in Western Australia. The "Composition over the Air" project provided MSOTA students with musical opportunities in collaboration with a composer, via two-way radio and at resident camps. (SV)

Provides the song "Can't Get in Tune Blues" to help orchestra string students determine whether their instruments are in tune. Explains that the song teaches students the pitch relationships among strings and gives them valuable open-string bowing practice. Includes the music and one variation. (CMK)