The Music History Classroom

In this useful text for graduate students, adjunct instructors, and full-time faculty, Davis (musicology, State U. of New York at Fredonia) brings together 11 essays by music history professors from the US and Canada, who focus on the design, implementation, and revision of college-level music history courses, including traditional music history surveys for music majors, but also applicable to period, composer or repertory, and special topics classes and seminars. They emphasize the need for a clear and effective pedagogical framework and that teachers must learn how to teach before thinking about what to teach. They focus on the application of current thinking on teaching and learning to the music history classroom, addressing course design, textbooks, and syllabi; classroom activities; lecturing; listening; assignments and homework; the use of technology; evaluating and assessment; research papers; teaching music to non-majors; the first year of teaching; and professional development. Annotation c2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

James A. Davis is Professor of Musicology and Chair of the Music History Area at the School of Music, State University of New York at Fredonia. His primary research focuses on the music and musicians of the American Civil War. He has also worked in the areas of music history pedagogy, American popular music of the 19th and 20th centuries, and the history of bands.