Explains that elementary students could not tell the difference between the expressive and dynamically even versions of folk songs. Indicates ninth graders were more consistent in their preference choices than students in other grades. States that music education and music performance instruction are important in the development of aesthetic…

This journal is devoted to the needs and interests of the school and college music teachers of Missouri and the United States. Articles in Number 32 are: "Developing Writing-Across-the-Curriculum Projects in Eighth Grade Band: An Observational Case Study" (Martin J. Bergee; Judith L. Crawford); "Student Teaching Programs in Music Education at…

States that in two experiments, instrumental students with 1 to 7 or more years of performance experience matched selected target pitches within a melodic context. Determined whether melodic pitch accuracy was affected by location or duration of target pitch. Subjects erred most often in the sharp direction. Includes references. (CMK)

Examines the effect of instruction in the use of specific rhythmic nuances on the timings of a musical performance. Forty volunteer upper-division and graduate students performed Johann Sebastian Bach's Suite no. 3 for Violoncello solo, Bouree no. 1, using a computer software program. Discusses the results. (CMK)

Investigates the effects of breath management instruction on the performance of 61 elementary brass players in in grades 4, 5, and 6. Shows that breathing instruction within group lessons was effective in improving the breathing and performance of elementary brass players. Includes references. (CMK)

Examines teacher and student behaviors in 48 violin and cello lessons taught by 12 expert Suzuki string teachers. Reveals that approximately 45% of the mean percentage of time was devoted to teacher verbalizations, 20% to teacher modeling, and 41% to student performance. (CMK)

Evaluates the effects of changes in tone quality on the perception of pitch and determines the extent to which the same tone-quality conditions affect the performance of pitch of 64 high school and university wind instrumentalists. Indicates that tone-quality conditions affected the perception and performance of pitch. (CMK)

Examines whether selected nonmusical attributes of 20 sixth-grade pianists would affect ratings of their performances by 123 musically trained evaluators. States that the visual group evaluators viewed a videotape, without the sound, rating the pianists on appropriateness of dress, stage behavior, and physical attractiveness. The audio and…

Explores the choral sound preferences and perceptions of choristers and auditors focusing on the effects of using different choral formations and types of spacing between singers and rows of singers. Suggests that choir spacing made a greater contribution to choral sound preferences of both auditors and choristers than did formation. (CMK)

Investigates the performance-quality ratings among college-age instrumentalists grouped in three solo preparation conditions using no accompaniment, live accompaniment, or intelligent digital accompaniment. Finds that the highest quality ratings across all groups were achieved in rhythm, technique, and articulation; the second performance ratings…

Examines the performance of expressive dynamic variations by advanced pianists in an aural modeling performance task. Indicates that the performer's identification of dynamic features and their incorporation into a performance goal influenced expressive performance of dynamic variations. Subjects who identified features played nonidiomatic…

Investigates the effects of a year-long program of vocal instruction on measures of respiration (vital capacity, peak flow, duration) and singing performance (high pitch, low pitch, total range, pitch accuracy) among general music students in elementary grades. Charts the specific psychomotor skills most influenced by instructive measures. (MJP)

Examines the effects of finger placement markers (FPMs) and harmonic accompaniment (context) on the left-hand technique, intonation performance skills, and overall musical performance skills of sixth-grade beginning string students. Considers how a tactile/visual reference and an aural reference can influence the development of string-intonation…

Investigates the effects of conducting instruction on beginning band students' individual rhythmic performance, group rhythmic performance, group performance of legato and staccato, and group performance of phrasing and dynamics. The students represented diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Concludes the conducting instruction is a useful tool…

Reports on a study that examined the nature of vocal jazz improvisation and the factors that influence achievement in improvisation. Participating subjects performed two jazz improvisation tasks that were measured for tonal, rhythmic, and expressive items. Correlating independent variables included jazz theory knowledge, jazz experience, and…