Books for Music Educators

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General Music Books

The Music Teacher's Book of Lists   by Cynthia Meyers Ross/ Paperback (March 1994) This unique resource for music teachers includes 298 reproducible lists related to all areas of general, choral, and instrumental music to help them develop instructional materials and planm lessons for elementary and secondary students. Materials are conveniently organized into 9 sections— from lists of composers to lists of instruments and songs (including current pop music).

The Music Teacher's Almanac : Ready-To-Use Music Activities for Every Month of the Year

by Loretta Mitchell Paperback - 242 pages Spiral edition  This book is categorized into months and offers music activities for grades 1-8.  I have only used the activities for 4th grade and lower.

Ready-To-Use Music Activities Kit by Audrey J. Adair, Leah Solsrud (Photographer) This kit features 204 reproducible activities to easily build skills in reading music, singing, composing, music theory, listening, ear training, and instruments of band and orchestra for grades Kindergarten through eight.

A Galaxy of Games for the Music Class  by Margaret Athey, Gwen Hotchkiss  I LOVE this book!  There are many useable ideas for a wide range of student abilities.

Classical Music for Dummies (1st Ed)   by David Pogue, Scott Speck Paperback - 384 pages Book & Cd edition (September 1997)  Yep.  Concise and well written.  I've loaned my out several times.

Opera for Dummies   by David Pogue, Scott Speck  Paperback - 384 pages Book & Cd edition  Opera is growing--in the size of its audience, in the number of companies, in general interest--and is attracting a lot of attention among younger, more visually oriented people. But opera can be intimidating!  This book helps sort it out!

Better Than It Sounds : A Dictionary of Humorous Musical Quotations  by David W. Barber  You know you want this!  Just click!!!

Dictionary of Musical Quotations  by Ian Crofton, Donald Fraser  I LOVE this book.  I have almost worn my copy out!  It is a great resource for captions, headlines and inspiration for classroom decor.  If you don't already have this...CLICK NOW!!! 

When the Fat Lady Sings : Opera History As It Ought to Be Taught   by David W. Barber, Dave Donald (Illustrator)  Easy to read and understand (even the puns!)

A Musician's Dictionary by David W. Barber, Dave Donald (Illustrator)

If It Ain't Baroque...More Music History As It Ought to Be Taught by David W. Barber, Anthony Burgess (Photographer), Dave Donald (Translator)

Classic Tunes & Tales : Ready-To-Use Music Listening Lessons & Activities for Grades K-8 by Tod F. Kline   This is a nice resource for your classroom.  This is also a good book for regular classroom teachers. 

The Big Book of Music Games   by Debra Olson Pressnall

Color Therapy for Children; A Practical Guide for Anyone Sharing Moments with Children by Maryanne E. Hoffman (Introduction)  Color Therapy is interesting to me.  I love purple!  Read more to learn about why your classroom decor inspires or frustrates your students.

Help I'm a Substitute Music Teacher   Lavender / Paperback / Published 1992  Useful!  Worth a browse!

Teaching & Learning Through Multiple Intelligences  by Linda Campbell, Bruce Campbell, Dee Dickinson   Paperback - 362 pages 2nd edition (January 1999)

Music Through Children's Literature : Theme and Variations/Grades Prek-6  by Donna B. Levene, Susan Kochenberger Stroeher (Illustrator) / Paperback (June 1993)

Making Each Minute Count : Time-Savers, Tips and Kid-Tested Strategies for the Music Class  by Cheryl Lavender / Paperback (April 1990) / Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation

I Wonder Why Flutes Have Holes : And Other Questions About Music (I Wonder Why)  by Josephine Paker           Reading level: Ages 4-8     Hardcover - 32 pages (September 1995)  Kingfisher Books

Instrumental Music Books

Instrument Repair for the Music Teacher Burton. Stanley / Paperback / Published 1978

The Well-Tempered Keyboard Teacher Marienne Uszler, et al / Hardcover / Published 1990

Musical Instruments Coloring Book by Ellen J. McHenry / Paperback (November 1995) / Dover Pubns

Homemade Instruments by Dallas Cline / Paperback - 63 pages (August 1976) /  Music Sales Corp

The Animal Orchestra by Nick Sharratt (Illustrator)  / Reading level: Baby-Preschool  / Hardcover - 16 pages Liftflap edition 

Meet the Orchestra  by Ann Hayes, Karmen Thompson / Reading level: Ages 9-12 / School & Library Binding - 32 pages 

Composer Books

Great Composers and Their Music : 50 Ready-To-Use Activities  by Audrey J. Adair

Bach, Beethoven and the Boys : Music History As It Ought to Be Taught   by David W. Barber, Dave Donald (Illustrator)

Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers by Patrick Kavanaugh  /  Paperback Revised edition (March 1996) / Zondervan Publishing House

Spiritual Moments With the Great Composers : Daily Devotions from the Lives of Favorite Composer & Hymn Writers  by Patrick Kavanaugh  /  Hardcover - 192 pages (October 1995) / Zondervan Publishing House

Composers' Houses  by Gerard Gefen, Christine Bastin (Photographer), Jacques Evrard (Photographer) Hardcover - 200 pages (September 1998) /Vendome Pr

Choir Music Books

World of Choral Music for Junior High/Teacher Edition Hausmann / Paperback / Published 1988

The Choir Member's Companion by Ginger G. Wyrick

The Complete Choral Warm-Up Book : A Sourcebook for Choral Directors by Jay Althouse  / Spiral-bound - 128 pages /  Alfred Pub Co

Choral Music in Motion : Adding Movement to Your Choral Program by Sally K Albrecht / Paperback Vol 001 (September 1984) \ Music in Action

Teaching Kids to Sing by Kenneth H. Phillips / Hardcover - 392 pages (April 1992) / Schirmer Books

The I Can't Sing Book : For Grownups Who Can't Carry a Tune in Paper...but Want to Do Music With Young Children by Jackie Silberg  /  Paperback - 192 pages (May 1998) / Gryphon House