Music Educators Journal

Instruction in improvisation is rarely included in school music courses. Guest editor Patricia Shehan Campbell discusses the importance of teaching improvisation and introduces this month's special focus.

Twenty years ago, an innovative program adopted improvisation as an essential means to teach creativity and musical thinking. The tenets of the Manhattanville Music Curriculum Project are just as important today, as Ronald Thomas explains.

Improvisation enables performers to think like composers, giving them a new perspective on music. Noted Dalcroze specialist Anne Farber offers ideas on teaching performing musicians to be improvisers.

How do young musicians become improvisers, and what can teachers do to foster the process? John Kratus looks at the phenomenon of improvisation and offers some suggestions for a learning sequence.

A few simple principles lie at the heart of jazz improvisation. Eddie S. Meadows offers a primer for students and teachers.

New teachers often have good musical training and understand educational principles, but many lack the kind of experience that would help them deal with situations that they are likely to encounter in their first jobs. Gary Mortenson has an idea to help fill this gap.