Examines a music teacher in a second-grade classroom in order to determine how the instructor taught and how the students learned. Identifies four themes related to the nature of teacher expertise and five themes on student learning. Reports that the teacher understood these issues and utilized the information to change teaching styles. (CMK)

Uses journals to record perceptions of student teachers of music during a pre-service teaching experience and determines factors that strongly affect perception. Indicates that expectations and evaluations were lower for students teaching at the elementary level when it was their second placement. (CMK)

Explains that early childhood music education deserves special attention in light of emerging research on musical growth and growth through music during children's early years. Introduces the special focus on music and early childhood education and describes the articles within the series. (CMK)

Advocates using the singing voice and the study of folk music in instrumental instruction. Recommends instrumental teachers confer with voice teachers to coordinate ideas and terminology. Includes several excerpts of scores and musical exercises, as well as a list of selected resources. (MJP)

Recommends all music programs taking an active role in developing programs that promote and teach improvisation. Discusses some simple instructional strategies and models to follow when creating an improvisational program. Includes score selections and a list of selected resources. (MJP)

Presents the results of a survey in which high school choral music students identified teacher behaviors that motivate students in choral rehearsal. Lists and discusses the most effective motivational behaviors: (1) creating a nurturing environment; (2) providing feedback; (3) assigning interesting repertoire; and (4) presenting achievable…

Relates the experience of a music education student who entered an elementary general music methods class intending to teach only high school students. Focuses on the transformation of her attitude toward teaching elementary students and addresses her job after student teaching. Illustrates the importance of helping preservice teachers find their…

Evaluates whether preservice primary teachers' confidence to teach music might be influenced by their experiences in a music fundamentals course. Reveals that this type of course developed their musical knowledge and skills and provided them with a strong model for teaching strategies that, in the end, significantly affected their overall…

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…

Focuses on the normative assumptions underlying current educational change in the Czech Republic. Explores the kinds of changes occurring in schools and universities, specifically regarding teacher education, by focusing on the views of two teachers (one mathematics, one music) and two teacher-educators. (CMK)

This article discusses the results of a survey conducted by the author asking music teachers why they leave their jobs. The author compiled an e-mail survey and sent it to instrumental music teachers who were making plans to leave their jobs for new positions or to leave the music education profession entirely. In order to widen the pool of…

Many so-called traditionalist musicologists and music educators would agree that one of the aims of education in democratic society should be to assist students, regardless of gender, class, ethnicity, or culture, and to the extent that it is possible, to construct their own musical and other differences free from excessive coercion. However,…

Since 1988, the author and his colleague Stephan Bladh, from the Malmo Academy of Music, have followed the student teachers that started their music teacher education that autumn (Bladh, 2002; Bouij 1998a). They started their research project with 169 hopeful students. The music teacher education program was then four years long, but some of the…

Learning to negotiate the "personal war between oneself as a musician and as a teacher" is an important part of the identity construction of pre-service music educators. In this article, the author shares some preliminary findings from a study related to the needs of in-service music teachers. This study did not begin as a sociological…

"The Art of Teaching the Arts: A Workshop for High School Teachers" is an eight-part professional development workshop for use by high school dance, music, theatre, and visual art teachers. The workshop examines how principles of good teaching are carried out in teaching the arts at the high school level. In the eight one-hour video programs,…