International-mindedness is defined in many different ways in education discourse. Some of the definitions include the ability to be open-minded and respectful of cultures and peoples or having an awareness of the interconnectedness of people not only intellectually but also with growing empathy. Do music educators have any role in helping…

Classroom and arts educators frequently collaborate in the pursuit of common educational goals. Examples of sophisticated interdisciplinary teaching can be found in nearly every classroom, as when teachers use music to provide context for social movements, dancers to demonstrate various types of movement, or paintings to illustrate proportion.…

Choral directors will always be assessed by the quality of their choral performances. The concepts presented in this article are designed to strengthen and improve choral performance. If choral directors can design an individualized assessment plan and implement some of these ideas during each grading period, grades will be more equitably…

Every new teacher soon realizes the importance of principals, those often put-upon school leaders who play a key role in determining the direction and quality of education in their buildings. In this article, the author focuses on differently spelled but equally important "principles"--the kind that guide one's decision making. While principals…

In this article, the author connects art and music to help others understand and value the relationship of these two disciplines. When working on a painting, or with other visual media, it is important to apply artistic elements and incorporate carefully considered design principles. This also applies in music and is especially apparent when a…

The opportunity for individualized instruction in the college studio allows the studio teacher to be a strong influence on the development of music students. The private studio can be an arena for standards implementation, bringing all aspects of a comprehensive music education to fruition. The college studio teacher is often the only teacher who…

Hushed melodies have been known to lull infants to sleep; preschoolers can memorize the alphabet through song; marching bands arouse patriotism; and choirs inspire spiritual renewal. Music educators are well attuned to the power of music to alter mood, provide motivation, and link learning. Yet, music often has been viewed in educational settings…

One way of seeing music education is to think of it as the study of music as a series of sounds and silences. This model has dominated North American conservatories and many universities (2) and found its way into classroom practice. Another way of seeing music education is to define it as cultural studies--that is, a subject concerned with…

When selecting literature to study and perform in band, opportunities for enhancing students' understanding of the music may inadvertantly be missed. One such opportunity involves collaboration with other disciplines. The other disciplines inform the study of the music and, in turn, the association with music enhances study of the other…

The National Standards for Arts Education encourages teachers to help students make connections between music and other disciplines. Many state curriculum guides likewise encourage educators to integrate curricula and find common ground between different subjects. Music--particularly vocal music--offers ample opportunities to find relationships…

A continuing debate in the field of education asks whether music should be taught as a separate discipline, having value in and of itself, or in conjunction with other subjects, valued only to the extent that it complements the learning of other material. Many contend that music is a frill and that its inclusion in a high school curriculum can be…

Discusses how medieval music can be utilized in the choral and general music classroom to teach middle school students and to address the National Standards for Music Education. Provides background information on medieval music, ideas for lessons, and a glossary of key terms. (CMK)

Describes how to teach about world music, specifically music of West Africa, using an interdisciplinary inquiry approach. Explains that questions are generated and the teacher develops the learning experience. Provides examples at the fourth grade level as well as information on resources and musical examples. (CMK)

Focuses on why and how to integrate music education with children's literature. Discusses the use of the thematic approach. Describes a unit on animals, focusing on books to include in the unit. Includes a bibliography of children's books. (CMK)

Describes a unit primarily for third through sixth grade students that can be used in music or language arts classrooms. Introduces students to children's literature about string instruments and teaches them music listening skills. Includes the selection criteria for literature as well as bibliographies of resources. (CMK)