January 2010 Volume 17, Number 4

Features

28    From Haydn to Hip-Hop
          When an inner-city Arizona music teacher found himself faced with too many orchestra students and not enough instruments, he took a risky but rewarding left turn—into rap music.

32    The Wonderful World of the Musical
          At its best, middle and high school musical theatre can bring a whole community together. That’s a lucky thing, because it sometimes takes a whole community to put on a successful show. Four experts in the field recommend production approaches.

38    Adventures on the Conference Circuit
          Music education conferences provide invaluable resources, but there sure are a lot to choose from. Here’s a rough guide to the landscape: what to look for, how to prepare, and how to cover the costs.

44   Information Exchange
          A New Jersey general and vocal music teacher is permanently in the market for ideas, and she’s passing the best ones on, both to her students and to her fellow educators.

Departments

8     Letters

10   Upbeat
          All-American Marching Band Month is here ... National Honor Ensembles deadline approaches ... Mahlmann to step down as MENC Executive Director in 2010 ... The MENC Legislative Memo makes its debut ... Setting the stage for the World’s Largest Concert ... A Georgia professor works to improve the middle school choral experience

16   At Large
          To measure true progress in arts education, you have to understand its value as well.

18   Classrooms 
          Recruitment strategies turn an urban band program around.

22   Advocacy
          Teachers should be prepared for an economic recovery.

24   Research
          In New York, two researchers find possible links between and language skills.

26   Technology
          What is MIDI and how can it make a difference in your classroom?

48   Workshop
          Learning how to listen ... The intricacies of making oboe reeds ... Starting a guitar class
from scratch … A big lift for string ensembles ... Drumming adaptations for special needs
students ... Methods to improve sight-reading

57   Stages
          Elementary: Advice on leading young orchestras
          Secondary: Performance assessment for the long term
          Collegiate: Integrated curricula and the new teacher

62   Resources
          New media and accessories for the classroom

66   Going Places
          An Oklahoma orchestra performs on a hallowed Chicago stage.

Spotlight On menc.org

• Band: Meet the MENC National Honor Band conductor in A Chat with Anthony Maiello.
• Chorus: To boost recruitment, Reel Guys in with Repertoire.
• Future Teachers: What Would You Do? Prepare for teaching with these real-life situations.
• General Music: Catch More Students with Web 2.0.
• Higher Education, Administration and Research: When Teaching Music to Children with Autism, find an effective communication strategy.
• Jazz: How to put novice improvisers at ease? Let ’Em Play.
• Orchestra: Extreme Weather Strings: Protect students and instruments when performing outdoors.
• News: Teachers discuss filming musical segments in unique settings for the World’s Largest Concert.®
   

Features

• Get the latest on music education policy in the new Legislative Memo
• Learn about music licensing at the Copyright Center
• Connect with peers on MENC’s social networks
• “Make Your Case” with the Support Music database