The integration of music theory within the high school band rehearsal

The purpose of this study was to provide a series of teaching units to assist the high school band director in integrating music theory into the daily rehearsal schedule. These units provide a workable alternative to the teaching of music theory within the large performing ensemble.Teaching Units 1. All musical examples in these units were written to reinforce the explanations of the given lesson material, and all musical exercises were written to be sung and to be played on the student's own instrument. 2. The organization of the teaching units was designed to be flexible enough to meet the individual needs of teachers and students in the band rehearsal. 3. Representative material for this study included intervals, modes, major and minor scales, pitch-class and interval-class, triads, seventh chords, and transposition. 4. These lessons provided short, sequential units of instruction which were designed to provide opportunities for creative musical development and understanding of our musical language. Conclusions 1. The systematic utilization of theoretical material and creative exercises will promote an understanding of the relationships between the visual and aural elements of music; it will provide an aid in the performance of the students' musical duties; it will increase the overall musicianship of the ensemble. 2. There is a tremendous need for an integrated music curriculum from grades K-12.