More than ever, today's America is diverse beyond anyone's wildest dreams, and the music that resonates in families and neighborhoods, on concert stages, in schools, dance halls, and clubs, and through the media is as wide a variety as exists anywhere in the world. America's music is decidedly difficult to pin down as a single and united style, as…

Musical play is part of children's culture. They sing and dance in rhythmic and pitched patterns alone, together, and with toys, household items, and yard objects. There are, however, cultural variations in how children participate in musical play and at what ages they are expected to play in certain ways. As guardians of children's musical…

In this time of global awareness, music is an aural pathway for understanding the world in which people live. It is a means of social and self definition and a bridge that connects young people to the others in their neighborhoods, school groups, and wider world communities. When teachers lead children and youth into deep-listening experiences…

Provides background information on multiculturalism within education and specifically discusses the historical background of multicultural music education. Addresses current changes in music education related to multiculturalism and questions the state of multicultural music education. (CMK)

Focuses on the role of music in children's daily lives. Offers examples of children's experiences with music, based on observations of and discussions with children. Believes that teachers should let children's behaviors and needs shape music education programs. (CMK)

Discusses the importance of teaching improvisation. Defines improvisation as the spontaneous generation of melody and rhythm without specific preparation or premeditation. Answers reasons for not teaching improvisation. Suggests training the ear, providing models, allowing for imitation, developing performance facility, guaranteeing success, and…

Examines music creativity from a cross-cultural perspective. Delineates the difference between creativity and re-creativity giving cultural examples of each. Discusses the differences between composition and improvisation and analyzes the language of musical expression. Describes the cultural traditions of musical creativity in India, China, Iran,…

Presents an interview with Bell Yung, a scholar of Chinese music and ethnomusicology. Maintains that world music (music from many nations and cultures) should be taught as early as possible in the schools and at home. Includes two lesson plans for teaching about Chinese music. (CFR)

Describes the role and influence of Mellonee Burnim on U.S. music education. Discusses the origins and impact of African American gospel music. Includes a list of selected resources and two lesson plans featuring gospel music. (CFR)

Addresses the need to present a multiculturalist approach in elementary and secondary school general music classes. Suggests connections between particular music teaching methods and ethnic musical traditions. Includes lesson plans concerning the teaching of Native American, African-American, Filipino, and Latin American music. (SG)

Asserts that music teachers increasingly are interested in music that originates outside the Western European tradition. Presents an interview with David P. McAllester on world music, the musical culture of the Navajo people, and how it should be taught in music classrooms. (CFR)

Reports on an interview with Terry E. Miller, a specialist on music of Thailand and other southeastern Asian nations. Discusses the culture, the role of music, and musical instruments of Thailand. Includes a list of resources and two lesson plans for teaching about Thai music. (CFR)