The MacPhail Center for Music Online School Partnerships program aims to increase access to high-quality music education for students who attend schools in Greater Minnesota in order to improve student interest and knowledge in music, and to improve or maintain positive school engagement and non-academic skills. The MacPhail Teaching Artists work…

This report presents findings from the annual evaluation of the MacPhail Intensive Strings Program. It includes satisfaction and outcome data for the 2019-20 school year.

Discusses the reasons to teach stringed instruments: (1) strings can be adapted to the size of the child; (2) home performance material resource availability; (3) stringed music skills contribute to developing basic skills; and (4) the importance of interaction in music. (CMK)

The impetus for this study was the question of whether extended techniques are actually being taught in college trumpet studio settings as standard skills necessary on the instrument. The specific purposes of this document included: (1) catalogue the extended techniques available to today's trumpet performer, (2) reflect on their current use and…

Stresses the importance for wind instrument players to have the skill called tonguing that is the ability to clearly articulate notes. Provides tips and guidelines for beginning and intermediate wind players to develop different types of tonguing and a learning sequence that offers students an introduction to multiple tonguing. (CMK)

Soldiers deserve respect for their courageous sacrifices, and a strong military is necessary to the safety of any nation, but militarism--excessive emphasis on the military and its interests--threatens the cultural balance of society. Militarism endangers the quality of school music education due to its tendencies to (1) encourage allocation of a…

A course in introduction to music emphasizing modes and forms is presented. A laboratory approach in which pupils are to develop skill in playing keyboard instruments, sing, listen to, read and compose music with emphasis on identification of elementary concepts of mode and form is used. Course objectives include: (1) The student will select the…

A course which is an introduction to music emphasizing modes and forms is outlined. Objectives include: (1) The student will select the title of a familiar melody from a list provided; (2) The student will identify by ear the performing medium from the following choices: violin, voice, piano, guitar, clarinet, trombone, organ, string bass,…

A course in introduction to music emphasizing modes and forms is presented. The approach used is a laboratory approach in which pupils will develop skill in playing wood-wind instruments, sing, listen to, read and compose music with emphasis on identification of elementary concepts of mode and form. Course objectives include: (1) pupil will select…

This report presents findings from the annual evaluation of the MacPhail Afterschool Intensive Strings Program. It covers the 2017-18 school year and looks at student progress reports, academic data, and student and parent satisfaction with the program. [For the 2016-17 report, see ED619344.]

The ability to read music fluently is fundamental for undergraduate music study yet the training of sight-reading is often neglected. This study compares approaches to sight-reading and accompanying by students with extensive sight-reading experience to those with limited experience, and evaluates the importance of this skill to advanced pianists…

Developed by music teachers, curriculum specialists, and Arkansas Department of Education personnel, this course content guide is designed to provide a basis for improving student skills with wind and percussion instruments. Developed on six levels, each level corresponds to one year of instruction and consists of basic skills for developing…

This report presents findings about the MacPhail Afterschool Intensive Strings Program in 2016-17. It shows that students who participated in the program are regularly attending school, maintaining or improving their math and reading proficiency scores, and reporting that they enjoy school. [For the 2015-16 report, see ED619373.]

The document presents checklists by which music teachers and school administrators can evaluate concrete elements of orchestra programs in grades four through 12. The opening sections outline the immediate benefits of having a school orchestra; effects on later adult life of student participation in orchestras; goals of a school orchestra program;…

MacPhail's Online School Partnership has been providing lessons and working with schools outside the Twin Cities metro region since 2011. This report looks at how well the program is being implemented, how well the collaboration between MacPhail and schools functions, and how it can be strengthened.