Checklist for Quality Submissions

Materials need to be:

• Culturally Diverse and Sensitive: We encourage the use of materials that promote diverse representation of race, gender, and culture. Authors should thoroughly research repertoire included to ensure it does not propagate sexism, racism, or bigotry. A bibliography and short description of repertoire origin are required. We also encourage authors to submit newly composed works and ideas.
• Multi-Faceted Learning Approaches: We encourage authors to submit lessons and ideas that engage students or teachers in multiple forms of learning, music making, and/or cognition. Example: 1) using visuals to support English Language Learners when teaching a folk song, or 2) singing, moving, and creating within a single lesson.
• Directly Related to the National Core Arts Standards: If submitting a lesson for students, authors must explicitly define at least one core arts standard as a focus.
• Supportive of 21st Century Skills: We encourage authors to submit materials that are directly related to 21st Century Skills as outlined in the Partnership for 21st Century Education and demonstrate use of creativity, collaboration, communication, and/or critical thinking.
• Free of Copyright Concerns: In order to avoid copyright infringement, musical repertoire and intellectual property presented in lessons should be the author’s original work or from the public domain. ALL articles must include a reference list of sources and works cited, formatted using standard APA practices.
• Mindful of Intellectual Property: Acknowledge the intellectual work of others by including bibliographic citations and references when appropriate. (Please use APA style citations.)

For Articles:

Please attach your article document below. Ensure it is edited for errors and outlined appropriately. Please hyperlink any websites or other online materials referenced.

For Lessons:

Please format your lesson to be sequential with steps and broken into sections for easy teaching. Consider the following tips:

• Recognize that teachers have diverse experiences. Succinct numbered steps are much easier to follow than a narrative paragraph.
• Include all necessary steps to ensure clarity for every teacher, regardless of their background or training.
• Provide detailed guidance to help your colleagues enhance their lessons effectively.

Example – Part 1: Introducing Poetry Elements and Rhythm

1. Introduce the Music
   • Play Mozart’s Twelve Variations on “Ah vous dirai-je, Maman.”
   • Instruct students: “Think about the elements of poetry. While the music plays, write down as many elements as you can remember.”
2. Rhythm Guessing Game
   • Say: “Let’s play a game. Listen. If you think you know what this song is, put your hand on your head and stay quiet while the others listen.”
   • Clap the rhythm to “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” without singing. Have students guess the song.
   • For each guess, have them sing while you clap the rhythm. Ask: “Did your song match mine?”
   • If needed, hum the melody while clapping the rhythm.
   • Repeat the process for “ABC Song” and “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”