Engaging Musical Practices

A Sourcebook for Instrumental Music

Edited by Suzanne L. Burton, Alden H. Snell

Publication date:

12 February 2015

Length of book:

308 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781475804324

Engaging Musical Practices: A Sourcebook for Instrumental Music is a long awaited compilation of best practices for instrumental music education. This unique book contains practical and pedagogically oriented chapters written by leaders in the field of instrumental music education. Designed for instrumental music teachers or for use in instrumental methods courses, the book covers a wide range of topics, such as:

student readiness for instrumental music
beginning an instrumental music program
teaching instrumental music at the intermediate and advanced levels
working with strings and orchestras
motivating students
incorporating improvisation into the curriculum
selecting repertoire based on curricular goals
engaging students in assessment
marching band pedagogy and techniques
integrating technology
considering “traditional” instrumental music practice
becoming an instrumental music teacher
communicating effectively with stakeholders

Contributions by James Ancona and Heidi Sarver, Kimberly Ackney and Colleen Conway, Christopher Azzara, William Bauer and Rick Dammers, Brian Bersh, Suzanne Burton & Rick Townsend, Patricia Campbell and Lee Higgins, Robert Gardner, Richard Grunow, Mike Hewitt and Bret Smith, Dan Isbell, Nate Kruse, Chad Nicholson, Alden Snell, and David Stringham.

List of Tables
List of Figures
Foreword
Acknowledgments

Part I: Getting Started
1. Shaping Readiness for Instrumental Music
Suzanne L. Burton and Rick D. Townsend

2. Beginning Instrumental Music Instruction with the End in Mind
Richard F. Grunow

Part II: Working with Ensembles

3. Focusing on Musicianship in Beginning Band or Orchestra
Colleen Conway and Kimberly Lansinger Ankney

4. Engaging Practices in Strings and Orchestra
Robert D. Gardner

5. Engaging Instrumentalists in Intermediate-Level Ensembles
Michael P. Hewitt and Bret P. Smith

6. Developing Advanced Ensemble Musicianship: Consistency Counts!
Chad R. Nicholson

7. The Modern Marching Band: Where Do You Start?
Heidi I. Sarver and James P. Ancona

Part III: Teaching and Learning

8. Ideals for Instrumental Music Making
Patricia Shehan Campbell and Lee Higgins

9. Teaching Everybody Everything
Alden H. Snell II

10. Improvisation and Composition: Developing Musicianship in Instrumental Music
Christopher D. Azzara

11. Engaging Students in Instrumental Music Assessment
David A. Stringham

12. Instrumental Music Learning and Technology
William I. Bauer and Richard J. Dammers

13. My Music and School Music: Informal and Formal Music Making
Dan Isbell

Part IV: Skills for Success
14. Nuts and Bolts: Practical Advice for Instrumental Music Teachers
Nathan B. Kruse

15. Support and Diplomacy: Transforming Instrumental Music through Effective Communication
Brian D. Bersh

Engaging Musical Practices ought to be a part of every music educator's library of resources. . . .[T]he book proves to be a good source for stimulating self-reflection about increasing the academic rigor, setting up a successful program, making adjustments to current curricular focuses, offering new teaching strategies and offering thoughtful pedagogical issues to spark conversations with colleagues.