Abstract:
This examination of the issues surrounding the problems of teaching the gifted music student in the classroom is divided into two separate parts. The first part being a presentation made before the Ball State University chapter of the Music Educator’s National Conference, and the second part being a printed resource guide for music educators. The presentation consisted of a lecture and question-and-answer session that covered the identification and teaching of musically gifted students. The resource guide consists of a booklet divided into four distinct chapters. The first chapter, “A Brief History of Gifted Education,” examines the phenomenon of gifted education from ancient times to the present. The second chapter, “Towards a Definition of Musical Giftedness,” seeks to define the somewhat abstract term “musically gifted.” The third chapter, “Identifying the Gifted Music Student,” provides resources and ideas for the classroom teacher to aid in the discovery of gifted students. The fourth chapter, “Teaching the Gifted Music Student,” presents an array of strategies designed to facilitate the instruction of gifted students within the music classroom. The four chapters of the guide work together to create a strong resource for the music educator who wishes to create curriculum alternatives for gifted and talented students.
