Popular media has become a common means by which students understand both the present and the past. Consequently, more teachers are using various forms of popular culture as pedagogical tools in the history classroom. With their resurgent popularity—on both the large and small screens—musicals can be used to engage students as an entertaining source of historical understanding. In order to facilitate the use of musicals as learning tools, however, teachers of history need a dependable resource. Teaching History with Musicals is a guide for teaching U.S. and world history. In addition to covering key themes and concepts, this volume provides an era-by-era overview of significant issues and related films, a tutorial in using film in historical methodology, user guides for ten key musical films, and sample exercises and assignments for direct classroom use. Covering eras from American settlement to the present, this books draws on both classic and contemporary musical motion pictures, including 1776, Pocahontas, The Jazz Singer, Cabaret, Footloose, Hairspray, and Rent. This resource enables teachers to effectively use films to examine key social and cultural issues, concepts, and influences in their historical context. Teaching History with Musicals will be an invaluable asset to any teacher of history in middle- and secondary school settings, as well as at the undergraduate level.

Unlike their colleagues in music theory and music education, teachers of music history have tended not to commit their pedagogical ideas to print. This collection of essays seeks to help redress the balance, providing advice and guidance to those who teach a college-level music history or music appreciation course, be they a graduate student setting out on their teaching career, or a seasoned professor having to teach outside his or her speciality. Divided into four sections, the book covers the basic music history survey usually taken by music majors; music appreciation and introductory courses aimed at non-majors; special topic courses such as women and music, music for film and American music; and more general issues such as writing, using anthologies, and approaches to teaching in various situations. In addition to these specific areas, broader themes emerge across the essays. These include how to integrate social history and cultural context into music history teaching; the shift away from the 'classical canon'; and how to organize a course taking into consideration time constraints and the need to appeal to students from a diverse range of backgrounds. With contributions from both teachers approaching retirement and those at the start of their careers, this volume provides a spectrum of experience which will prove valuable to all teachers of music history.

Co-published by MENC: The National Association for Music Education. A History of American Music Education covers the history of American music education, from its roots in Biblical times through recent historical events and trends. It describes the educational, philosophical, and sociological aspects of the subject, always putting it in the context of the history of the United States. It offers complete information on professional organizations, materials, techniques, and personalities in music education.

Recordings of works composed for band and suitable for grades 2-5.

music book

The ultimate resource for teaching any music history course

This comprehensive, longitudinal analysis of arts in education initiatives, based on the A+ School Program, discusses the political, fiscal, and curricular implications inherent in taking the arts seriously and offers a model for implementation and evaluation that can be widely adapted in other schools and school districts.