Article describes an introductory music program in which all students are given the opportunity to learn about a variety of musical instruments by actually playing them. (RW)

Instructions are provided for making these simple musical instruments from inexpensive materials: an Indian bull-roarer; bottle chimes; a ham can guitar; flower pot, box, and steel drums; a xylophone; a musical sawhorse; rattles; a melody box; and a box thumb harp. (SJL)

Recommends elementary school projects where children design and make their own musical instruments. Maintains that this familiarizes students with the family of instruments and how they produce sound. The built instruments can be as simple as a washtub bass or as complex as an electronic synthesizer. (MJP)

The Honolulu (Hawaii) Symphony Orchestra's commitment to education includes young people's concerts and in-school ensembles. The purpose of this booklet is to enhance the educational potential of in-school concerts through the presentation of information about the orchestra and music related concepts. Part 1 describes the orchestra's personnel,…

Describes several activities for preschool and primary age children integrating science and music sounds. Activities include using musical instruments, the voice, and the piano. Through these activities students can learn to listen to and discriminate between musical sounds made by striking and vibrating. (DS)

An elementary school (K-6) general music unit presents strategies and exercises for helping students attain skills in music literacy. The first section, which is arranged by grade level, helps students read, perform, and dictate a variety of rhythmic, harmonic, and melodic patterns. The second section provides instructions and accompanying…

Contends that keyboard synthesizers can be used effectively in the music education classroom because they are instruments more than they are technological tools. Describes an elementary music program that uses synthesizers throughout the K-6 curriculum. Includes diagrams of classrooms arranged to use computerized keyboards incorporated with other…

This book introduces music reading skills in 21 lessons that focus on the violin but which may be applied to the study of any musical instrument. The lessons are designed for beginning music students and build upon previous lessons in the book. This volume focuses on the violin because of the large number of students presently learning to play it…

Designed as a resource for elementary teachers, this booklet contains proven classroom activities and lesson plans as well as a human resource guide to help incorporate music into the K-6 curriculum. Fourteen lesson plans grouped by grades K-3 or 4-6 comprise the first section. For each lesson instructional objective, time estimate, materials,…

These three short articles are designed to help nonmusicians bring musical experiences into their classrooms. The articles discuss teaching resources for the nonmusical teacher; making simple, inexpensive rhythm instruments; and musical games. (Editor/SJL)

This book integrates music education with literature and social studies. Lessons are based on children's books. Some suggested books include illustrated folk songs or explanations of style or form in musical history. Others are inherently musical in the lyricism of the author's words or the rhythm of the text. Each lesson is self contained. The…

This book offers teachers a practical and theoretical classroom guide to the many ways music and stories may be explored, both independently and in tandem, to give students a better understanding and appreciation of each art form separately and of their power together. The crucial aspect of activities described in the book is original productions…

Recommends adding electronic keyboard to vocally based music curricula for elementary students. Argues that the keyboard provides a graphic representation for musical understanding. Suggests teaching keyboard in small, manageable, hierarchically structured steps. Offers suggestions from finger placement and creating sound effects in first grade to…

Reports on study of 80 elementary students in grades 3-6 to determine whether tempo perception and performance abilities increased with grade level and musical training. Finds that student performance and perceptions did increase with grade level and training. Concludes that modern technology has made research into tempo perception more precise…

Conducted during the Institute for Steelband Playing held in 1988, this study's aim was to understand how Trinidadian people view, experience, explain, and order specific elements of their musical world, with the goal of providing an information base for establishing steelband programs in Canadian schools. The study focused on (1) How did the…