A primary difficulty with music performance assessment is managing its subjective nature. To help improve objectivity, rubrics can be used to develop a set of guidelines for clearly assessing student performance. Moreover, rubrics serve as documentation for student achievement that provides music teachers with a written form of accountability.…

The interpretation of jazz style is crucial to the element of swing in any jazz ensemble performance. Today, many charts for both large and small instrumental and vocal jazz ensembles are well marked with articulations and expression markings. However, in some cases, there is nothing to guide the musician. This article addresses some common jazz…

A common desire among music educators is to help students develop the ability to reflect on and evaluate their own music making. To achieve this goal, music educators often provide their students with a variety of instructional activities, such as watching their ensemble's latest concert performance and writing a critical review of it, allowing…

Because there are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of honor choir events each year across the United States, most choir directors will likely be invited to conduct an honor choir at one point or another. Additionally, many conductors will work with honor choirs at the city, municipal, and county levels. Still others will work with ensembles from…

Performing music of another culture can give a direct, visceral experience that listening alone cannot. If music is to function as a bridge between cultures, as a performer one must be ready to move out of one's comfort zones and experience music in a completely new way. The musical expressions of a culture come from the shared beliefs of that…

Teaching music is hard work. Learning what it really takes to teach music is often even harder. New music educators need and deserve mentors' support. Those of mentors who care about their profession and the young professionals who join their ranks should continue to look for effective approaches to help sustain and nurture these new careers.…

Explains the process for creating a curriculum in music education. Offers a definition of curriculum and address issues to be considered while designing the curriculum. Discusses how to incorporate the National Standards for Music Education, describes important music concepts, and offer guidelines for writing. (CMK)

Explains how to plan a choir rehearsal schedule. Offers two examples of how to plan single rehearsals after the schedule is finished, such as for rehearsals involving only two compositions and rehearsals involving four or more works. Provides a discussion of additional planning guidelines. (CMK)

Presents conducting techniques for music educators. Explains the Visual Score Study (VSS) that assists conductors in developing baton movement. Analyzes and discusses how to use the VSS movements. Focuses on using a technique called registration. Explores four additional technical matters: conducting arm, baton, body, and orchestra. (CMK)

Provides guidelines for choral directors who are choosing and adapting music for middle school singers (grades 4 through 9). Discusses three types of ensembles (treble, mixed, and tenor/bass choirs) in which the voicing is appropriate to the adolescent voice. Includes a selected repertoire for middle school choral groups. (CMK)

Considers embedded assessment within choral rehearsals, describing five assessment tools for use within the regular activities of choral ensembles. Discusses the benefits of embedded assessment. Provides ten tips for helping teachers successfully embed assessments. Includes sidebars for the five assessments and a bibliography. (CMK)

Presents three principles of repertoire selection: (1) select music of good quality; (2) select music that is teachable; and (3) select music that is appropriate to the context. Discusses how repertoire selection relates to the National Standards for Music Education. Lists resources for repertoire selection and choral teaching. (CMK)

Examines Western adaptations of music from other cultures. Argues against performing multicultural music according to the Western musical system. Provides suggestions for authentically performing multicultural music, including interacting with the music and learning about its cultural origins. (CMK)

Explores how choir directors choose the music repertoire for a concert. Offers six criteria (text, singability, form, part-writing, accompaniment, and instructional implications) when evaluating a piece for use with children. Discusses the process of developing the concert. Includes sources for listings of children's choir octavos and sample…

Focuses on the use of assessment rubrics with musical composition. Provides guidelines for musical composition assignments and describes the construction and use of rubrics. Includes four example assessment rubrics. (CMK)