Explores the frequency of selected musical elements in a sample of folk songs from Bahia Brazil using a computer program and manual analysis. Demonstrates that the contents of each beat are comprised of simple rhythmic elements, melodic ranges are within an octave, and most formal structures of the songs consist of four phrases. (CMK)

Investigates how the process of knowledge formation in teaching and learning can be identified through teachers' definitions, decisions about assessments, and what criteria they use in an assessment situation. Reveals three dominant bipolar constructs among instrumental skills, expressive modes, creativity, and interpretative modes and two further…

Determines whether modes of instruction and uses of different instruments affect students attitudes, recall, and performance skill for Ghandian music. Stresses that authentic instruments are important in achieving optimum attitude and knowledge outcomes in multicultural music instruction. Identifies the benefits of live instruction as opposed to…

Examines whether analysis techniques of student/teacher interactions widely used throughout the United Sates could be applied to a music instruction setting in Japan by analyzing two videotaped music lessons of different teachers. Finds that teacher A, who used five times more feedback, was rated higher overall by both Japanese and U.S. students.…

Discusses individual childrens process in acquiring new songs that is based on structure-genetic constructivism, a theory in the tradition of Piaget, through a microanalytic approach. Provides a graphic representation of a childs consecutive singing and also addresses joint singing, pitch quality, and strategies of applying melodic patterns. (CMK)

Compares the effects of explicit training in classical and romantic styles, the relevance of four musical dimensions, and the congruence of categorizations with predictions of exemplar- or prototype-theories of concept formation. Explains that subjects in both the exemplar and prototype groups relied on independently abstracted cues rather than…

Addresses the impact of the growing internationalism of the period from 1930 to 1954 on music education that found its expression in an increased number of Eastern European and Latin American folk songs in music textbooks and finally flowered into the creation of the International Society for Music Education in 1949. (CMK)

Examines the different kinds of singing competency of children aged 4 to 8 that were evinced by a range of singing tasks. Suggests that: (1) vocal pitch accuracy is task-specific; (2) a greater homogeneity in vocal pitch matching abilities between boys and girls; and (3) sex difference emerge at age 7 favoring girls. (CMK)

Discusses elements of a larger work on music education in the context of a rebuttal to critics. Includes sections on philosophical bases, composing and performing, works of music, musical listening, musical understanding, verbal knowledge, music and other arts, musical creativity, and educational values. (DSK)

Critiques scholars who argue that theories of music and theories of musical perception are, and should be, fundamentally different. Reviews research on music perception and how it is used in aural training programs. Makes suggestions for improving the field of aural training and music-education research. (DSK)

Responds to David Butler's discussion of aural training in music education. Emphasizes the need for more music educator involvement in aural-skills instruction and more research on aural-skills acquisition. Places Butler's discussion within the historical context of the past 30 years of music education philosophy. (DSK)

Describes research designed to address questions about relationships between music instruction and academic performance and the role of private piano education in these relationships. Discusses the family and social background of private piano students, attitudes of students toward lessons, students' participation in other activities, and…

Investigates two problems: (1) do learning effects accrue in accuracy or response time when computerized tests are administered in two sessions? and (2) what are the effects of tonal pattern order and contour types on average item difficulty and length of response time for children with different levels of achievement? (DSK)

Relates the creation of a teaching method in which students create physical movements reflecting their understanding of a musical piece. Students begin by mirroring instructors' movements, then modifying them to better fit their individual understandings, and, finally, create their own movements for new pieces. Evaluates the method's pedagogical…

Outlines the development of a qualitative-research program on music learning. Reviews a series of research projects and their findings, and shows how each led to the evolution of new questions. Discusses the evolution of qualitative-research methods developed throughout the program and the value of collaboration between researchers. (DSK)