Guides and Resources for Music

"" The Répertoire international de la presse musicale (RIPM) is one of four international cooperative bibliographic undertakings in music, alongside Le Répertoire international des sources musicales (RISM), Le Répertoire international de littérature musicale (RILM), and Le Répertoire international d’iconographie musicale (RIdIM). “These are, without doubt, the most important current bibliographic documentation projects in the field of music research.”1 Of the four ‘Rs’ RIPM alone focuses on nineteenth-century music and musical life... " more

"Scientific Research Reveals Reasons to Play Music

• •Playing a musical instrument can reverse stress at the molecular level, according to studies conducted by Loma Linda University School of Medicine and Applied Biosystems (as published in Medical Science Monitor)
• •Making music can help reduce job burnout and improve your mood, according to a study exposing 112 long-term care workers to six recreational music-making sessions of group drumming and keyboard accompaniment. (as published in Advances in Mind-Body Medicine)
• •Playing music increases human growth hormone (HgH production among active older Americans. A study following 130 people over two 10-week periods measured participants' levels of HgH. The findings revealed that the test group who took group keyboard lessons showed significantly higher levels of HgH than the control group people who did not make music. (University of Miami)" ... more

"The McMaster Institute for Music and the Mind is an interdisciplinary group of researchers including psychologists, neuroscientists, music theorists, musicians, mathematicians, kinesiologists, health scientists, and engineers.

At the institute, scientists, researchers, and musicians study questions about the physical structure, evolution, neural processing, performance, and perception of music. Specific questions concern how the auditory and motor systems interact to produce music, how performers synchronize with each other, how people encode and recognize music, and how groups in society are defined by the music they play.

Critically, the developmental neuroscience perspective informs the research community on how music induces emotional reactions, how musical experience and training affect brain development, and how musical training/exposure affects language, cognitive, and social abilities in both children and adults.

This institute brings together science and the arts in a unique and innovative way, with the goal of enhancing the scientific study of music across Canada and internationally.

"The Richards Institute of Education and Research, through song and play, fosters the development and well being of children and their caregivers; promoting this as a core value in communities everywhere.

Founded in 1969, The Richards Institute of Education and Research is a 501(c)3 educational nonprofit organization. The Institute sponsors two main initiatives: Education Through Music and ChildFuture. Throughout the course of the traditional school year, the Institute offers graduate level courses in ETM in various cities throughout the U.S. Additionally, Master Teachers for the Institute consult one-on-one with teachers in their classrooms to further their study and mastery of the "Art of Teaching." During the summer months, the Institute offers several weeklong day camps in different locales as well as an International Summer Colloquium. These offerings typically attract a wide range of individuals involved in childhood development... more about the Richards Institute

Education Through Music is the study of artful teaching and the process of learning through song and play. ETM activities build the imaging system and symbolization process through the synergy of language, song, movement, and interactive play. Thereby, laying the foundation for the building of intelligence.

Similarly, ChildFuture seeks to impact a broad spectrum of people involved in both direct service to children as well as administrators, policy makers, funding sources, etc. To that end ChildFuture sponsors seminars and conferences in a variety of venues with the goal of bringing the most current understandings in child development, especially in the area of the neurosciences, to bear on current practice." ... more

"This site and its affiliates make available the research, editions and transcriptions of a number of musicologists and performers around the world. We invite submissions for inclusion from anyone interested in the field, encourage discussion of issues concerning the genre as well as any related issues.

We specialise in publishing works which are difficult to find or have not been reproduced in modern editions. All of our editions are based upon the original manuscripts or period printings and editorial changes are clearly marked so that performers are able to make informed choices in preparing the works. Most of the music in the catalogue has never before been available in modern editions or recordings - we invite you to enter the world of this great vocal music.

Cantata Web editions are high quality but incredibly low-priced, presented with informative prefaces and translations where appropriate/available. All Cantata Web editions are printed on heavy (100gsm) paper, comb-bound for easier reading and protected by card and plastic covers. Continuo lines are not realised due to the importance of interpretation for each individual. All editions are provided with a single copy of the score and all instrumental parts. Parts are generally single-sheet except for collections where parts are similarly bound.

Cantata Editions is a small company and is not registered for VAT. Music is printed to order and is sent via Royal Mail Airmail or parcel service and can sometimes be delayed when the staff are researching outside the UK. We guarantee delivery within 28 days. Should you require immediate delivery, pease select Adobe PDF. If you require courier delivery, please request this on checkout and one of our staff will be in touch with a price." ... more

Institute for Music & Brain Science is dedicated to:

• Advancing knowledge about the neurobiological foundations of music
• Fighting diseases that impair the capacity to perceive, learn, and perform music
• Treating children and adults suffering from neurological and other diseases through music
• Developing technology that enhances intellectual growth, brain recovery, and mental health through music
• Educating general, professional, and patient audiences around the world about scientific advances, medical resources, and available therapies for learning and rehabilitation. more

" Parenting Central deals with issues related to the intellectual and emotional development of your child.

The site contains authoritative resources and links to web sites containing valuable information on what parents can do to realize the potential of the developing child.

Gardner, professor of education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, explores the notion of multiple intelligence. His work has greatly influenced the field of early childhood development and education, generally.

MI - The Theory Multiple intelligence concepts are given brief summaries and links are provided referencing Harvard Project Zero, an alternative school that applies Howard Gardner's theories and techniques. The subject of reformation of education is the focus of some of the many links on this site. Howard Gardner and his colleague's notions of rennovating mainstream educational practices deserve a careful look.

Remarkable ideas and information Produced by the Suzuki Music Academy ...

"MuSICA currently provides all issues of MuSICA Research Notes. MRN is a newsletter of analysis and commentary on the broad field of research on music and behavior, including evolution, brain mechanisms, child development, perception, learning, memory, performance, health and related topics. " more
or you can be searched through the subject index.

The author of all material is Dr. Norman M. Weinberger.

" The Mozart Effect is an inclusive term signifying the transformational powers of music in health, education, and well-being. The Mozart Effect® represents

• The use of music and the arts to improve the health of families and communities
• The general use of music to improve memory, awareness, and the integration of learning styles
• The innovative and experimental uses of music to improve listening and attention deficit disorders
• The therapeutic uses of music for mental and physical disorders and injuries
• The collective uses of music for imagery and visualization, to activate creativity, and reduce depression and anxiety

more

" The MIND Research Institute is a community-based non-profit research organization, formed in 1998 and dedicated to brain research and to preparing students in grades K-12, regardless of cultural or socio-economic background, for success in school, work and society. The Institute has successfully transferred more than 20 years of breakthrough academic research on the brain, at the University of California, Irvine, into applied education programs for elementary school students. Student test results have demonstrated remarkable increases year to year.

Our instructional programs and education initiatives are revolutionizing math education in America. We offer a research-proven tool for teaching and learning mathematics through non-language based, visual instructional software... " more

"The American Orff-Schulwerk Association is a professional organization dedicated to the creative teaching approach developed by Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman. We are united by our belief that music and movement – to speak, sing and play; to listen and understand; to move and create – should be an active and joyful experience.

The Orff-Schulwerk mission is:

• to demonstrate and promote the value of Orff Schulwerk;
• to support professional development opportunities; and
• to align applications of the Orff Schulwerk approach with the changing needs of American society.

What is Orff Schulwerk?
Orff Schulwerk is a way to teach and learn music. It is based on things children like to do: sing, chant rhymes, clap, dance, and keep a beat on anything near at hand. These instincts are directed into learning music by hearing and making music first, then reading and writing it later. This is the same way we all learned our language.

Orff Schulwerk happens in a non-competitive atmosphere where one of the rewards is the pleasure of making good music with others. When the children want to write down what they have composed, reading and writing find their moment.

Orff Schulwerk uses poems, rhymes, games, songs, and dances as examples and basic materials. These may be traditional or original. Spoken or sung, they may be accompanied by clapping and stamping or by drums, sticks, and bells." ... more

"Music Education Online provides a wealth of online information for anyone interested in music education.

Established in 1993, Music Education Online is one of the most referenced web sites for music education on the Internet today." ... more

"Children's Music Workshop provides quality instrumental music instruction to public and private schools throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

Children's Music Workshop currently coordinates instrumental music programs at more than two dozen public and private schools in grades Kindergarten through 8. Instruction is offered before school, during the school day and after school - depending on the needs of each individual school.

Children's Music Workshop administers every aspect of the instrumental music program including student recruitment and enrollment, instrument sales and rentals, music selection and distribution, weekly or bi-weekly instruction and all recital and concert performances. " more

"The Music-in-Education National Consortium (MIENC) represents a network of universities, arts organizations, school reform foundations, and partnering schools whose purpose is to bring about an evolution of music teaching and learning so that music can assume an essential role in higher education teacher preparation and public school reform.

MIENC collaborative practices encourage the creation of community-wide initiatives that engage artists and teachers in mutually complementary roles as artists, teachers, and scholars in schools -- a model with cross-disciplinary implications for moving the current rhetoric of music's evolving role in the school-community and teacher development programs from theory to practice.

The MIENC challenges and critiques the status quo of music education in this country. Too often music programs of the past have been limited to servicing only a small fraction of the public school population (...).

In this era of educational scrutiny, currently articulated at the federal level in the No Child Left Behind legislation, music teachers, music researchers, and arts administrators can commit to a dialogue that legitimates the place of music at the table of school reform."... more

A non-profit resource for kids, families, and children's performers worldwide

"In the 1980s, like-minded teachers, performers, songwriters, radio hosts, and parents who cared about the quality and content of children's music established The Children's Music Network (CMN)—a nonprofit association that now has members across the United States and Canada

We are diverse in age, ethnicity, and geographic reach. Our membership includes full-time and part-time performers, professional and amateur songwriters, classroom teachers, music educators, record producers, distributors, broadcasters, parents, grandparents, and children.

We meet and stay in touch to share songs and ideas about children's music, to inspire each other about the empowering ways adults and young people can communicate through music, and to be a positive catalyst for education and community-building through music.

Our chapters work to support the creation and dissemination of life-affirming, multicultural musical forms for, by, and with young people. CMN regional chapters all around the country organize both local and regional gatherings which are open to CMN members and non-members alike." ... more

Children's Songs with free lyrics, kids' music and printable Song Sheets, from KIDiddles.
Songs and Lyrics from
KIDiddles

MENC: The National Association for Music Education, among the world's largest arts education organizations, marked its centennial in 2007 as the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. Through membership of more than 75,000 active, retired, and pre-service music teachers, and with 60,000 honor students and supporters, MENC serves millions of students nationwide through activities at all teaching levels, from preschool to graduate school.

Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENC's activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education." ... more

Piano.com is the piano enthusiasts ultimate resource for locating piano-related information on the Internet. Piano.com has the most comprehensive set of links available anywhere. Whether you are a professional, a classical or jazz pianist, a student or a piano hobbyist, Piano.com has everything you need." ... more

"The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit organization with the mission of advancing active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs from the international music products industry.

Founded in 2007, the NAMM Foundation’s mission is simple: to increase active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. The Foundation’s contributions to the industry throughout the year have provided opportunities to reach new audiences and create new music makers of all ages. " (...)

"Whether you're 5 or 95, you can benefit mentally, physically and socially from playing a musical instrument

Everyone knows that playing musical instrument is fun and entertaining. But did you also know that playing music is scientifically proven to benefit peope of all ages.

Children and Teens -- Playing music positively affects the development of children's cognitive skills. It builds confidence, self-discipline and inspires creativity. Also playing music can increase productivity and help kids and teens connect socially with their peers." ... more

"Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.

Music therapy interventions can be designed to :

• promote wellness
• manage stress
• alleviate pain
• express feelings
• enhance memory
• improve communication
• promote physical rehabilitation.

Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in a wide variety of healthcare and educational settings." ... more informations"

Precision Songs Method

"Most teachers and therapist already know first hand about the power of music. We have lost count of the number of times an educator has described a special child to us beginning with the phrase, “I have this child who won’t talk but will sing....” or “One of my students, who won’t do much else, loves to sing...” or “I sing entire lessons to keep a child’s attention....” Many others express the regret that they don’t feel they can sing well enough. Let our CDs take the stage fright out of using music in a classroom or therapeutic setting. Our music is based on well researched drills, not mother goose. We won’t mix in lines about cows jumping over the moon, men selling muffins, or mice sprinting up a clock. We avoid the use of nursery rhymes because the special needs mind is often so literal.

These are not nursery rhymes, but speech development lessons put to music.

Why Music? - The Institute for Music and Neurologic Function states: “New studies are reporting overlapping areas for music and language processing. Rhythm has been found to positively influence brain activity during learning; scientists have reported that after a rhythm sequence is stopped, brain activity occurs in anticipation." ... more

"Musikandmotion, with licensed educator, Sunny Kira, M.A., introduces Kindermusik music-based "total child" development classes to families in North Natomas and West Sacramento area of California. Musikandmotion has been awarded "Maestro Top Program for exceptional service" in bringing music to the lives of children and families in Natomas, and West Sacramento.

Kindermusik isn't just for music. It is the world's leading "music and movement" based educational program to nurture and accelerate your child's early development in many areas, including language, math, cognitive skills, creativity and reasoning, social and emotional skills, physical coordination and balance, confidence and self-esteem, listening, self-discipline, and yes, music! Kindermusik is a comprehensive music and child-develoment program designed for ages birth through 7 years.

Now available in Natomas and West Sacramento for children of ages birth through seven years, Musikandmotion's parent-child courses are the product of years of research by the Kindermusik International team of specialists and consultants in childhood development and music education.

Founded more than 30 years ago, Kindermusik has touched the lives of more than 1.5 million children in 66 countries through 6,000 dedicated educators!" ... more

The Institute for Music Research began in 1991-92 as one of the UTSA Strategic Initiatives. It was established to promote research in the areas of music psychology, music learning, and music technology.

Since its inception, the IMR has produced publications (books, multimedia CD-ROMs, conference proceedings, and audio CDs), hosted conferences, created an online research database (CAIRSS), and supported the research of various faculty members.

Members of the IMR have published in leading music and psychology journals and have made presentations at regional, national, and international conferences. more and IRM links