The research problems of this dissertation were: 1) A description of the perceived value of music in light of political undercurrents in Boston prior to and during the years under investigation, and 2) the profile of the constituency of the Boston School Committee and Committee on Music in 1837 and 1845. Questions addressed the effect of religious and moral concerns of the day on the decision by the School Committee in 1837 to try music in the curriculum, and the possible effect of religious politics on Lowell Mason's dismissal from the schools in 1845. In the minds of mid-nineteenth century Bostonians, religious and moral values were intrinsic to the very nature of music. Key members on the School Committee portrayed music as being spiritual yet nonsectarian in its influence. Therefore, the findings suggest that music was believed to provide common ground between opposing and diverse religious sects. Reasons given for Mason's dismissal by John Sargent, a member of the Committee on Music, showed parallels to H. W. Day's accusations in the press a year earlier that Mason had managed his position in a sectarian manner. Sargent's background supports the theory that religious politics were at work in Mason's dismissal. Although members of the School Committee of 1845 were religious, only isolated cases support the proposition that any of them would have opposed Mason strictly on the basis of religious issues. Evidence suggests that their passivity to the action by the Committee on Music was probably due to concurrent public criticism of attempts at school reform within the Committee. While under such scrutiny, Committee members' inaction regarding Mason's dismissal may have reflected a desire not to jeopardize their own positions as a political body.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the needs for music-related content in the Bible college pastoral curriculum as perceived by a selected group of pastors. The research problems were (1) to assess the extent of musical preparation of recent pastoral graduates from selected accredited Bible colleges in the United States, (2) to assess the music-related duties of those graduates in paid pastoral positions, (3) to assess the pastors' perceived needs for instructional preparation for the fulfillment of their musical duties, and (4) to determine the effect of selected factors on the perceived needs of those pastors.

The purpose of the study was to investigate conflicts in the perceptions of band directors, band parents, band students, and selected school personnel regarding the role and scope of their respective band programs. The problems were to examine the relationships among these four groups in terms of selective perception, perceptual constancy, and polarization. Questionnaires were developed in order to survey the senior public high schools in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In addition to demographic data, the questionnaires included perceptions about public performances, marching, concert, and jazz bands; contests and festivals; and other band related activities which might be desirable in a band program. The questionnaires concluded with opportunities for open-ended comments and suggestions about the survey instrument and the band program. Statistical computations included one-way analysis of variance, chi-square test, frequency counts, and cross-tabulations. Qualitative analyses and reports of interviews helped to clarify and interpret all statistical findings.

It is the purpose of this thesis to list and evaluate the published materials for junior high school band that the director may have a comprehensive knowledge of materials adapted to that level.

Within this document, the writer hopes to present a thorough study of the various methods and materials which are available for the beginning, intermediate, and advanced band classes of the Goose Creek Independent School District, Goose Creek, Texas, taking into consideration the organization of the school system as it exists at the present time.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the comparative effectiveness of three out-of-class procedures designed to augment a conventional classroom instructional method in a course in the fundamentals of music for elementary education students. The procedures examined were (a) conventional out-of-class study assignments; (b) out-of-class individual use of a programed textbook; and (c) out-of- class individual use of a teaching machine program. This study was concerned with measures of achievement in fundamentals of music as taught to elementary education students at North Texas State University, Denton, Texas, during the 1963-1964 school year. The measures of achievement in music were limited to the pre-test of fundamentals of music and to the post test, interim test, and retention test of fundamentals of music.

xi, 67 p. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / This investigation compared the effectiveness of cooperative learning to individualistic instruction in two fourth-grade elementary school general music classes. Effects of the two strategies on the music composition, social interactions, and acceptance of peers were examined. Cooperative learning is a process whereby students work together toward shared goals. Student/teacher interaction is structured and encouraged in this model. Groups of four to six students combine their efforts to solve problems, make decisions, and work interdependently in an effort to enhance critical thinking and social skills necessary for students to better function in society. Individualistic instruction allows students to work independently of others. Interaction with other students is absent, given that students work alone, allowing them to work at their own pace on problems that may or may not be the same as those of their classmates. A pre/posttest two group experimental design was used. The two experimental groups were cooperative learning (n=26) and individualistic instruction (n=27). Intact, fourth-grade heterogeneous classes were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. Each group participated in seven interventions over five-weeks. The independent variables were the two learning strategies, cooperative learning and individualistic instruction. The dependent variables were music composition, interactions, and acceptance of peers. Measurement instruments included a music composition test, created by the researcher, and an acceptance scale based on that of Yager, Johnson, Johnson, & Snider (1985). Students were videotaped at the start and end of the study to assess on- and off-task interactions. There was a significant increase in composition pre- and posttest scores for both experimental groups. On- and off-task interactions were significantly different between groups. There was no significant difference in the acceptance of peers; however, a strong correlation was found between the positive nominations made on the pre- and posttests. / Adviser: Harry Price

The international drive among western countries to shift from industrial to knowledge economies has focussed considerable attention on education. United Kingdom government educational policy, influenced by the global knowledge economy, has shifted responsibility for learning work skills from the workplace to schooling and post-compulsory education. Government policy emphasises the importance of education's role in preparing students with the skills, knowledge and understanding required to enhance the United Kingdom's competitiveness in the global market. In contrast to the work-related emphasis of the wider educational context, music education emphasises the enrichment of experience. The value of music education is related to people's needs, and the functions it performs in their lives. Music education should be transformative, creative, enriching and relevant. Participation in music education is motivated by the intrinsic satisfaction of making music, rather than the extrinsic need for work-related competencies and qualifications. Music education competes for students with other subjects in the educational marketplace when the music curriculum ceases to be compulsory at age fifteen. Therefore, it is important to understand how students relate not only to music education, but also to the wider work-related educational context in which their subject participation choices are made. Therefore, the purposes of this study are twofold: (1) to establish an overview of how students perceive music education and the factors that influence their enrolment intentions, and (2) to establish an overview of how students perceive music within the wider context of education. Statements were chosen that were considered representative of the rationales for education presented by the government and the music education community. Questionnaires and interviews were developed using the statements, and were ii administered to a random sample of Year Nine and Ten (GCSE Music and non - GCSE Music) students Music was not a relevant subject for most students. However, the perceptions of a small percentage of students (mainly Music students) did find music education relevant in the ways the literature suggested it should be. The most common influences on enrolment were perceptions of ability and enjoyment (or lack of). Despite the strong emphasis on work-related skills and qualifications in the wider educational context, students generally agreed that Music was a subject better suited to enhancing life and lifestyle than career options. However, reflecting the wider educational context, Music was perceived as being more careers/future study orientated than transformative, creative, enriching and relevant.

Education in Singapore is seen as a key instrument to equip the next generation with resources to meet the needs of a Knowledge-Based Economy in a globalize world. The goal of this study is to develop a Music Education Curriculum Framework consistent with a Knowledge-Based Economy (KMCF) for Singapore neighborhood secondary schools. It provides the general context of music education in Singapore and conducts research to reveal the perspectives of key cross-sector stakeholders in music education, namely: The Ministry of Education (MOE) music and curriculum planning and development officers, National Institute of Education music academics, principals, general classroom music teachers and over 600 students. The curriculum framework will focus on the desirable qualities of Knowledge-Based Economy (KBE), particularly creativity, innovation, risk-taking, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning which have been strongly emphasized by the Singaporean government. In the light of their vision of thinking Schools, Learning Nation, the Ministry of Education is repositioning and reorienting the education system by implementing numerous initiatives and policies. The intention is to foster flexibility and diversity in a broad-based and holistic education, but the main focus to date has been on information technology, problem-solving and core subjects rather than on the creative aspects of the arts. By surveying students, this research aims to find out to what extent students find their music lessons satisfactory and whether their perspectives is compatible with those of other stakeholders. Students generally do not take music seriously, and the public perception is that a music career is limited to performing and teaching. The model curriculum framework will indicate further related careers, and the personal growth that comes through a genuine engagement with music. The Ministry of Education controls the school curriculum, structure of education, examinations, teacher qualifications and conditions of service. In 2005 it initiated a Teach Less, Learn More initiative which promoted student engagement. However, despite the rhetoric of classroom-based, teacher-owned and school-driven learning, it did not consult teachers or students and therefore failed as a vital learning organization which involved all participants in deciding future directions. For Senge (1994, p.13), a learning organization is a place where people are continually discovering how they create their reality. The curriculum design is an example of an example of an open system which this thesis addresses the issue of providing a structured programme flexible enough to adapt to contextual needs while providing the standards and outcomes needed in a competitive knowledge-based economy. This thesis makes its original contribution to knowledge by applying an open system model from organisational theory to a conventional music curriculum.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Mus.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1998.