This document investigates issues, principles, and practices in music education programs in elementary schools. Objectives were to determine how music education programs meet the intellectual, cultural, and artistic needs of children in a changing society and to provide direction in planning and implementing more realistic and comprehensive music programming. The document is presented in five chapters. Chapter I evaluates the influence of contemporary educational trends on music education. Information is presented on group interaction, experiential learning, discovery learning, intellectual growth, listening and discussion, participation and performance, and skill development. Chapter II relates aesthetics to music education, with an emphasis on helping music educators develop basic criteria for educational objectives and curriculum. Chapter III reviews innovative music education approaches by Dalcroze, Kodaly, Orff, and Suzuki. Chapter IV suggests a general inquiry based music curriculum for grades five and six. Also presented is an interdisciplinary approach to music and social studies, in which the music of ancient Greece is explored. The final chapter summarizes the report and concludes that music educators will be more successful in increasing elementary school pupils music appreciation and skills if they concentrate on helping students move toward their own learning goals; use innovative approaches such as simulation, small groups, and inquiry; and relate music to other subjects in the curriculum. (DB)