Teaching Music: Managing the Successful Music Program

by Darwin E. Walker

Book Overview

This practical text offers a comprehensive program for assisting pre-professional and professional educators in developing the management skills necessary to become effective instructors in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0028645960
• ISBN13: 9780028645964
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Cengage Learning
• Length: 340 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.9" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Managing the Successful Music Program

I found this book very useful in teaching undergraduate elementary and secondary band methods. As indicated in the table of contents, a variety of topics important to successful music teaching are discussed. The author did not include basic materials that should be covered in applied methods classes. Beyond a given breadth of knowledge in the content area, pre-service teachers need to know how to get along in the real world of day-to-day teaching. Walker provides eight chapters (out of"~ fourteen) on leadership and basic organization."~ wrong with this idea, he does not emphasize the fact that groups of students do not always possess the maturity to make this system work effectively. He is somewhat critical of the manipulative style, which can be effective without being despotic, and says nothing about using it as a tool for teaching participatory administration. Leadership and administration are the umbrellas for ensuing topics."~ several issues significant to young teachers just out of college who are anxious to demonstrate to the world how much they have learned. For example, change simply for the sake of change is not an effective educational policy; and there are some comments that may be thought but should not be spoken regarding one's predecessor. He also discusses the idea of proactivity in addressing issues before they become problems, a strategy not frequently observed among new teachers."~ situation addressed, from the music library to the music booster organization, Walker provides multiple descriptions to meet many needs, along with sample forms, assessment tools, letters, and even organizational bylaws. While the book is replete with samples and suggestions, Walker is by no means dogmatic in his commentary. Each description or sample format may be viewed as a springboard for class discussion, allowing latitude for the uniqueness of every teaching situation. purport to have all the answers to every question. Some topics such as curriculum, lesson planning, and music selection and programming are discussed only briefly or not at all. But, Teaching Music does provide a solid point of departure for the journey toward effective music teaching.