An effective music program in the elementary schools should be based on a cumulative sequence of musical experiences that will foster continual growth in musical understanding, skills, and knowledge. This book shows how a music program can be organized and suggests teaching procedures that may be used to promote specific musical learnings for students between the ages of 5 and 12.

A discussion of the necessity of training young children to appreciate music and selecting the proper music to use for this instruction.

The intent of this book is to give a systematic treatment to the total music education program. In addition to examining the historical, philosophical, and psychological foundations of music education, the book develops principles for all aspects of the operation of the music education program including program development, methods of teaching, administration, supervision, and evaluation.--Provided by authors in preface.

Emphasizes an approach to teaching music in elementary schools that includes developing an "understanding" of the art of music that goes beyond just teaching "thrills" or "skills".