Describes musical instrument digital interface (MIDI), a communication system that uses digital data to enable MIDI-equipped instruments to communicate with each other. Includes discussion of music editors, sequencers, compositional software, and commonly used computers. Suggests uses for the technology for students and teachers. Urges further…

Reports on study of 80 elementary students in grades 3-6 to determine whether tempo perception and performance abilities increased with grade level and musical training. Finds that student performance and perceptions did increase with grade level and training. Concludes that modern technology has made research into tempo perception more precise…

Describes a high school music program in which students form strolling performance groups. Explains that violinists, violists, and even cellists play as they stroll through audiences. Suggests that strolling strings programs benefit both students and teachers by providing opportunities for creativity and enhancing musical skills. Provides a list…

Describes the use of "Recorder Teacher," a computer software program that teaches elementary students to play the soprano recorder and compose their own music. Highlights include reinforcing music concepts; using written and auditory examples in the software; and testing on fingering and reading. Sample screens are included. (LRW)

Describes how teachers and caregivers can create music environments in early childhood settings that connect to other areas of development. Discusses how music environments can accommodate free-choice participation, describes the caregiver's role, and suggests music activities. Includes definitions of musical concepts for young children, also tips…

Describes the technique of scordatura, and the different unusual notional principles, as a means to exploring the Baroque repertoire. Explains that scordatura pieces indicate, using either the term discordable or discordatura, that the established tuning must be altered by mistuning the instrument. Concentrates on Domenico Gabrielli's "Seven…

Offers performance technique tips for the recorder, some instructional strategies for generating student interest, and guidelines for the maintenance of recorders. Provides a list of publications, websites, and organizations in order to assist teachers in locating more information about how the recorder can become part of music education programs.…

Observes that biological sex is an important determinant of whether elementary students persevere in musical instrument training and hypothesizes that psychological sex-type may also play an important role. Shows that psychological sex-type directly impacts choice of instrument type. Suggests applications to musical instrument education. (DSK)

Analyzes 15 performances of "Bach's Suite Number 3 for Violoncello solo, Bourree Number 1" and determines what patterns of rhythmic variation (rubato) were used by soloists. Indicates that the soloists demonstrated four identifiable and similar trends in the performances. (CMK)

Presents an activity combining music and art in which students create a picture expressing a particular style of music. Develops skills in painting and drawing from observation. The paintings include a realistic drawing of one or more instruments and convey the feelings of the instrument's musical style. (CMK)

Studies whether young children make consistent gender associations with instrumental timbres when not linked to individual instruments. Finds that the children sampled made consistent masculine/feminine associations for tones presented with some gender-based differences in particular responses. Notes possible interactions between timbre and…

Identifies and describes children's in-action mental model of their own learning, which was inferred from the observation of children's behaviors when learning a song. Explains that the mental model is made up of musical organizations and learning strategies, each on two levels, large-scale and detailed. (CMK)

Provides suggestions for teachers new to Edwin Gordon's music learning theory, describing an incremental approach to audiation-based instrumental music instruction. Discusses teaching methods to introduce audiation, improving students' audiation skills, using tonal patterns to improve intonation, and Gordon's rhythm syllable system. Includes a…

Describes an independent music therapy project where the author worked with an 11-year-old boy, Johnny, who had recently become profoundly deaf. States that the goals were to master basic playing of an instrument and proficiency in reading notes and rhythms. (CMK)

Presents an interview with Elliot ("Ellie") Mannette who has played a major role in the development and application of steel drums. States that he has spent most of his life designing and teaching the steel drums. Covers interview topics and background information on Mannette. (CMK)