Engaging Musical Practices for Elementary General Music

An outstanding resource for both elementary music methods courses and practicing music educators. Thoughtfully updated, this 2nd edition integrates current research and best practices in culturally responsive teaching, authentic assessment of music achievement, inclusive classroom communities, movement-based music learning, and emerging approaches. Rich with classroom applications, it equips music educators to create engaging, equitable, and meaningful musical experiences that foster musical growth and a strong sense of belonging for every child. -- Jennifer McDonel Rivers * Professor of Music and Associate Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Radford University, USA *
This 2nd edition offers a clear ‘why’ alongside ready-to-use lesson plans, reflective prompts, and practical strategies for elementary general music educators. It includes important updates for today’s classrooms – notably modern band, technology, and culturally informed practices. -- Martina Vasil * Professor of Music Education, University of Kentucky, USA *
Fill your classroom with joy and discover fresh ways to bring vibrant, multi-sensory musical experiences to life. This 2nd edition celebrates children’s unique cultural identities while building meaningful social connections. Packed with caring teaching approaches that foster growth, it empowers teachers to nurture children’s natural musical expressions. -- Sheila C Woodward * Previous President of the International Music Council and the International Society for Music Education *
This updated 2nd edition centers a responsive and interactional music pedagogy, collected from a wide range of viewpoints while keeping the needs of teachers in mind. It offers accessible and practical applications for supporting musical growth and development within a cultural context. Thinking beyond traditional boundaries, it provides an extremely valuable resource for music educators of all kinds. -- Lauren K. Kooistra * piano teacher and Associate Research Professor of the Humanities, Pennsylvania State University, USA *
Grounded in current research and best practices, this 2nd edition speaks directly to the real challenges teachers navigate every day, offering new perspectives for ensembles, instruction, and developing musicianship, as well as support and inspiration for educators looking to deepen their own practice. -- Lynn Grossman * Music Teacher, Pittsford Central School District, NY, USA; Past-President, Gordon Institute for Music Learning, NY Chapter (NY-GIML) *
An outstanding, comprehensive resource. Clear explanations of educational theory are paired with relevant, meaningful applications and concrete examples that teachers can adapt to their own classrooms. A must-read for music educators seeking to increase their students’ engagement, strengthen their practice, and elevate their teaching. -- Elissa Johnson-Green * Associate Professor of Music, University of Massachusetts Lowell, USA; immediate past Chair, Early Childhood Music Education Commission of the International Society for Music Education *