Teaching of Instrumental Music

Richard J. Colwell is Professor Emeritus of Music Education at the University of Illinois and the New England Conservatory of Music. He is the founding editor of the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education and the Quarterly Journal of Music Teaching and Learning . He is also a Guggenheim scholar and a member of MENC's Hall of Fame.

 

STARTING OUT  

INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACH

MUSICAL VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

MUSIC LITERATURE AND PERFORMANCES

LEARNING SONGS BY EAR

LEARNING TO PRACTICE

1    Teaching and the Role of Motivation

PSYCHOLOGY

THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC CLASSROOM

PERFORMANCE

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

NOTES

WEBSITES

2    Objectives

THE PURPOSE OF OBJECTIVES

TYPES OF OBJECTIVES

ORGANIZING OBJECTIVES

CREATING INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES

EXTRAMUSICAL VALUES AS INSTRUMENTAL OBJECTIVES

THE PRIORITY OF OBJECTIVES

CONCLUSION

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

NOTES

WEBSITES

3    Assessment

DEFINING ASSESSMENT IN MUSIC

PRINCIPLES FOR ASSESSMENT

ASSESSING MUSIC AS AN ART

EVALUATING MUSICAL SKILLS

OBSERVATION

LISTENING

PORTFOLIOS

RUBRICS

TESTS, TOOLS, AND PROCEDURES FOR ASSESSMENT

ASSESSMENT OF INSTRUMENTAL OBJECTIVES

GRADING

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

NOTES

WEBSITES

4    Administration

ORGANIZATION

CALENDAR

FINANCES

PROPERTY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

MUSIC LIBRARY

FACILITIES

PUBLIC RELATIONS

RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARENTS

RELATIONSHIP WITH STUDENTS

RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADMINISTRATORS AND COLLEAGUES

TRAVEL

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

NOTES

WEBSITES

5    Recruiting

PRELIMINARIES FOR SUCCESSFUL RECRUITING

GENERATING INTEREST

RECRUITING PLAN

SELECTING AN INSTRUMENT

LOCATING AN INSTRUMENT

FOLLOW-UP

RETENTION

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

WEBSITES

6  Special Populations and Instrumental Music

LEGISLATION

INSTRUCTIONAL IDEAS FOR TEACHING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TO STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

NOTES

WEBSITES

7 The Physiology of Instrumental Music Performance

MATCHING STUDENT AND INSTRUMENT

SYSTEMS OF BODY MOVEMENT

OTHER HEALTH ISSUES

PERFORMANCE ANXIETY

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

NOTES

WEBSITES

8   Principles of Winds and Acoustics of Strings

BREATHING

ACOUSTICAL PRINCIPLES FOR WINDS

ACOUSTICAL PRINCIPLES FOR STRINGS

NOTES

WEBSITE

9   The Flute

HISTORY

SELECTING THE INSTRUMENT

ASSEMBLING THE FLUTE

HOLDING THE FLUTE

EMBOUCHURE AND REGISTER

INTONATION

TONE QUALITY

TECHNIQUE: ARTICULATIONS AND FINGERINGS

WHAT TO PRACTICE

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE FLUTE

HEALTH ISSUES

TROUBLESHOOTING

WEBSITES

10   The Oboe

HISTORY

SELECTING THE INSTRUMENT

ASSEMBLING THE OBOE

HOLDING THE OBOE

EMBOUCHURE

INTONATION

TONE QUALITY

REEDS

TECHNIQUE: ARTICULATIONS AND FINGERINGS

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE OBOE

HEALTH ISSUES

TROUBLESHOOTING

WEBSITES

face="Times New Roman" size=3>Prologue

STARTING OUT  

INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACH

MUSICAL VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

MUSIC LITERATURE AND PERFORMANCES

LEARNING SONGS BY EAR

LEARNING TO PRACTICE

1    Teaching and the Role of Motivation

PSYCHOLOGY

THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC CLASSROOM

PERFORMANCE

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

NOTES

WEBSITES

2    Objectives

THE PURPOSE OF OBJECTIVES

TYPES OF OBJECTIVES

ORGANIZING OBJECTIVES

CREATING INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES

EXTRAMUSICAL VALUES AS INSTRUMENTAL OBJECTIVES

THE PRIORITY OF OBJECTIVES

CONCLUSION

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

NOTES

WEBSITES

3    Assessment

DEFINING ASSESSMENT IN MUSIC

PRINCIPLES FOR ASSESSMENT

ASSESSING MUSIC AS AN ART

EVALUATING MUSICAL SKILLS

OBSERVATION

LISTENING

PORTFOLIOS

RUBRICS

TESTS, TOOLS, AND PROCEDURES FOR ASSESSMENT

ASSESSMENT OF INSTRUMENTAL OBJECTIVES

GRADING

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

NOTES

WEBSITES

4    Administration

ORGANIZATION

CALENDAR

FINANCES

PROPERTY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

MUSIC LIBRARY

FACILITIES

PUBLIC RELATIONS

RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARENTS

RELATIONSHIP WITH STUDENTS

RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADMINISTRATORS AND COLLEAGUES

TRAVEL

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

NOTES

WEBSITES

5    Recruiting

PRELIMINARIES FOR SUCCESSFUL RECRUITING

GENERATING INTEREST

RECRUITING PLAN

SELECTING AN INSTRUMENT

LOCATING AN INSTRUMENT

FOLLOW-UP

RETENTION

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

WEBSITES

6 Scheduling

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MIDDLE SCHOOL

HIGH SCHOOL

BLOCK SCHEDULING

SUMMER PROGRAMS

PRIVATE LESSONS

TEAM TEACHING

HONORS COURSES

ELECTIVE COURSES

JAZZ AND OTHER SMALL ENSEMBLES

HONORS AND COMMUNITY ENSEMBLES

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

NOTES

WEBSITES

7    Technology

OVERVIEW

TECHNOLOGY-ASSISTED INSTRUCTION

ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTS

MUSIC PRODUCTION: DIGITAL AUDIO

MUSIC PRODUCTION: DIGITAL AUDIO

MULTIMEDIA

FUNDING FOR TECHNOLOGY

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS/ACTIVITIES

NOTES

WEBSITES

8 Special Populations and Instrumental Music

LEGISLATION

INSTRUCTIONAL IDEAS FOR TEACHING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TO STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

NOTES

WEBSITES

9 The Physiology of Instrumental Music Performance

MATCHING STUDENT AND INSTRUMENT

SYSTEMS OF BODY MOVEMENT

OTHER HEALTH ISSUES

PERFORMANCE ANXIETY

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

NOTES

WEBSITES

10 Principles of Winds and Acoustics of Strings

BREATHING

ACOUSTICAL PRINCIPLES FOR WINDS

ACOUSTICAL PRINCIPLES FOR STRINGS

NOTES

WEBSITE

11   The Flute

HISTORY

SELECTING THE INSTRUMENT

ASSEMBLING THE FLUTE

HOLDING THE FLUTE

EMBOUCHURE AND REGISTER

INTONATION

TONE QUALITY

TECHNIQUE: ARTICULATIONS AND FINGERINGS

WHAT TO PRACTICE

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE FLUTE

HEALTH ISSUES

TROUBLESHOOTING

WEBSITES

12   The Oboe

HISTORY

SELECTING THE INSTRUMENT

ASSEMBLING THE OBOE

HOLDING THE OBOE

EMBOUCHURE

INTONATION

TONE QUALITY

REEDS

TECHNIQUE: ARTICULATIONS AND FINGERINGS

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE OBOE

HEALTH ISSUES

TROUBLESHOOTING

WEBSITES

13   The Clarinet

HISTORY

SELECTING THE INSTRUMENT

ASSEMBLING THE CLARINET

HOLDING THE CLARINET

EMBOUCHURE

BASS CLARINET

INTONATION

TONE QUALITY

TECHNIQUE: ARTICULATIONS AND FINGERINGS

FINGERINGS

REEDS

WHAT TO PRACTICE

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE OBOE

HEALTH ISSUES

TROUBLESHOOTING

WEBSITES

14   The Bassoon

HISTORY

SELECTING THE INSTRUMENT

ASSEMBLING THE BASSOON

HOLDING THE BASOON

EMBOUCHURE

INTONATION

TONE AND EFFECTS

TONGUING

FINGERING

REEDS

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE BASSOON

HEALTH ISSUES

TROUBLESHOOTING

WEBSITES

14   The Saxophone

HISTORY

SELECTING THE INSTRUMENT

ASSEMBLING THE SAXOPHONE

HOLDING THE SAXOPHONE

EMBOUCHURE

RANGE

INTONATION

TONE QUALITY

THE MOUTHPIECE

REEDS

TECHNIQUE: ARTICULATIONS AND FINGERINGS

WHAT TO PRACTICE

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE SAXOPHONE

HEALTH ISSUES

TROUBLESHOOTING

WEBSITES

16   Principles for Brass

CONICAL AND CYLINDRICAL INSTRUMENTS

SELECTING THE INSTRUMENT

STARTING THE BEGINNER

EMBOUCHURE

ENDURANCE

WARM-UPS AND WARM-DOWNS

CONTROL

FLEXIBILITY

RANGE

ARTICULATIONS

INTONATION

MUTES

DYNAMICS

THE MOUTHPIECE

CARE, CLEANING, MAINTENANCE

TROUBLESHOOTING

NOTES

17   The Trumpet and Cornet

HISTORY

SELECTING THE INSTRUMENT

ASSEMBLING THE INSTRUMENT

HOLDING THE TRUMPET OR CORNET

EMBOUCHURE

INTONATION

TONE QUALITY AND EFFECTS

FINGERINGS AND TECHNIQUE

WHAT TO PRACTICE

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE TRUMPET/CORNET

HEALTH ISSUES

WEBSITES

18   The Horn

HISTORY

SELECTING THE INSTRUMENT: Bb or F Horn

THE HORN AS A MARCHING BAND INSTRUMENT

ASSEMBLING THE HORN

HOLDING THE HORN

EMBOUCHURE

INTONATION

TONE QUALITY

FINGERINGS

WHAT TO PRACTICE

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE TRUMPET/CORNET

HEALTH ISSUES

NOTES

WEBSITES

19   The Trombone and Baritone/Euphonium

HISTORY

SELECTING THE TROMBONE

SELECTING THE BARITONE AND EUPHONIUM

ASSEMBLING THE INSTRUMENTS

POSITIONS FOR HOLDING

THE BEGNINING STUDENT

EMBOUCHURE

MOUTHPIECE

INTONATION

TONE AND EFFECTS

SLIDE TECHNIQUE FOR TROMBONE

WHAT TO PRACTICE

CARE AND MAINTENANCE

HEALTH ISSUES

NOTES

WEBSITES

20   The Tuba

HISTORY

SELECTING THE INSTRUMENT

ASSEMBLING THE INSTRUMENT

HOLDING THE TUBA

EMBOUCHURE

INTONATION

FINGERINGS

TONE AND EFFECTS

CARE AND MAINTENANCE  OF THE TUBA AND SOUSAPHONE

HEALTH ISSUES

NOTES

WEBSITES

21   Percussion Instruments

SELECTING THE INSTRUMENT

THE PERCUSSION SECTION

SNARE DRUM

SNARE PERFORMANCE

BASS DRUM

MALLET PERCUSSION

TIMPANI

CHIMES

TENOR DRUM AND TOM-TOMS

CYMBALS

TAM-TAM

TAMBOURINE

TRIANGLE

LATIN AMERICAN INSTRUMENTS

OTHER WORLD MUSIC PERCUSSION

AUXILIARY PERCUSSION

THE DRUM SET

HEALTH ISSUES

NOTES

WEBSITES

22   Principles of Strings

HISTORY

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

SELECTING A STRING INSTRUMENT

LEFT-HAND FUNDAMENTALS

VIBRATO

RIGHT-ARM AND HAND MOVEMENT

BOWING

DYNAMICS

SUZUKI

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF INSTRUMENTS AND BOWS

HEALTH ISSUES

TROUBLESHOOTING

NOTES

WEBSITES

23   The Violin

HISTORY

SELECTING THE VIOLIN

HOLDING THE VIOLIN

LEFT-ARM AND HAND MOVEMENTS

RIGHT-ARM AND HAND MOVEMENTS

TUNING

HARMONICS

THE SHIFT

TEACHING VIBRATO

WHAT TO PRACTICE

NOTES

WEBSITES

24   The Viola

HISTORY

SELECTING THE INSTRUMENT

HOLDING THE VIOLA

LEFT-ARM AND HAND MOVEMENTS

SHIFTING

VIBRATO

LEFT-ARM AND HAND MOVEMENTS

RIGHT-ARM AND HAND MOVEMENTS

TRANSFERRING FROM VIOLIN

NOTES

WEBSITES

25   The Cello

HISTORY

SELECTING THE INSTRUMENT AND BOW

HOLDING THE CELLO
THE BEGINNING STUDENT

LEFT-ARM AND HAND MOVEMENTS

RIGHT-ARM AND HAND MOVEMENTS

WHAT TO PRACTICE

NOTES

WEBSITES

26   The Double Bass

SELECTING THE INSTRUMENT

HOLDING THE BASS
LEFT-ARM AND HAND MOVEMENTS

RIGHT-ARM AND HAND MOVEMENTS

WHAT TO PRACTICE

CARE AND MAINTENANCE

WEBSITE

27 Rehearsal Routines

SCORE PREPARATION  

REHEARSAL PLANNING

DAILY ROUTINES

TUNING AND INTONATION

HOW TO PRACTICE

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

NOTES
BIBLIOGRAPHY

   Rehearsing Concert Literature

SELECTION OF MUSIC

PHRASING

TONE, BALANCE, BLEND, AND INSTRUMENTATION

MUSICAL INDEPENDENCE

TEMPO, METER, AND RHYTHM

MUSICAL INTERPRETATION

BOWING

CONCERTS

CONTESTS AND FESTIVALS

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

NOTES



28   The Marching Band

MARCHING FUNDAMENTALS

FIELD-BASED SHOWS

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

NOTES

WEBSITES

29   The Jazz Ensemble

PURPOSE OF JAZZ INSTRUCTION

SETTING UP THE ENSEMBLE

ROLES, PRACTICING, AND REHEARSAL ISSUES FOR SPECIFIC INSTRUMENTS

SELECTING APPROPRIATE CHARTS

JAZZ COMBOS

JAZZ STRINGS

CONCLUSION

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

NOTES

WEBSITES

References

Index