By 1879 the vast buffalo herds were all but gone from the Great Plains. Many of the remaining animals had moved south from the Milk River of northern Montana and Alberta into the Judith Basin of central Montana. In these rich grasslands, for a few more years, life went on as it had for centuries. Following the buffalo came many Indian bands, as…

Eager prospective music majors often desire to see themselves as successful future musicians. However, majoring in music does require some degree of preparedness that goes beyond passion. Not all students are prepared for formal study of music at the college level. Most college music faculty expect their students to have had extensive musical…

This study explores the musical content and human processes of improvisations of children and adults using the phenomenological lenses of time, space and responsivity. Paired improvisational performances of two late-career adult composers and two 7-year-old children were analysed considering a lifespan-related perspective involving the origins of…

In October 1987, approximately 5,300 female, full-time professors of music, found on the College Music Society list, were sent surveys. The complete responses numbered 1,081, and included responses to questions on subjects such as role of performance, age at which music was chosen as profession, jobs held to pay for education, obstacles to…

In a down-to-earth, practical article, the author tells how to guide the beginning jazz band drummer so that he can lay the foundation for a swinging ensemble. (Editor/RK)

The ability to record sound is power over sound. Musicians, producers, recording engineers, and the popular music audience often refer to the sound of a recording as something distinct from the music it contains. Popular music is primarily mediated via electronics, via sound, and not by means of written notes. The ability to preserve or modify…

A study examined the lyrics of the lovesongs of the musical partnership Eurythmics (David Stewart and Annie Lennox), a popular music group. The method used was based on the James Chesbro study, which classified lyrics using a critical paradigm that combined Northrop Frye's hierarchy of communications systems (Ironic, Mimetic, Leader-centered,…

The hybrid music of the group "Kid Creole and the Coconuts" shows traces of every popular music style that has aroused New York City during the past 40 years--big band swing, Latin dance music, calypso, reggae, disco, funk, soul, rock, and movie pop. The fictitious characters the members of the band assume on stage, together with their…

Over 700 reference materials, songbooks, and recordings on pop, rock, country, folk, blues, and soul music from the 1950s to the present are listed. The bibliography was compiled because the study of popular music is becoming increasingly important to disciplines such as history, communications, and popular culture as well as music. Entries are…

To verify the existence of a communication gap between the contemporary music composer and his general listening audience and to assess the scope and causes of the gap, interviews were conducted with a cross-section of composers, performers, conductors, educators, and listeners throughout the nation. During the 9-month study, (September 1968-June…

Based on the results of research studies to date, a few revisions in current evaluation procedures of music students could help improve procedures that are commonly acknowledged to be inefficient for selecting students for performing groups, for awards or scholarships, or for school admissions and placement. Gives five suggestions for improving…

Discussing musical performance anxiety, Meharg examines its causes and offers some coping strategies. Explores methods of controlling body reactions as well as natural solutions and mental reactions to anxiety. Presents tips for anxious musicians and suggestions for educators to help students reduce and control feelings of anxiety. (GEA)

Jazz is undoubtedly the great North American contribution to art, yet this art form is undermined by the White music elite which chooses instead to support institutions that perpetuate European music. When jazz is given attention in the mass media, both its Black origins and the great Black jazz artists are largely ignored. (GC)

This article provided some basic suggestions on how to get the most out of rehearsal time. (Editor/RK)

The author considers the British tradition of amateur orchestras and their institutionalization within adult education. Participation motives are discussed, and schools are urged to strike a balance between learning and performance, through performance and rehearsal arrangements, to fulfill the needs of persons who see themselves as musicians…