The musical experience needs three human beings at least.
It requires a composer, a performer, and a listener;
and unless these three take part together,
there is no musical experience.

Benjamin Britten

    It is easiest to understand the design of the Brummitt-Taylor Music Listening Program:   A Non-Directed Approach by looking at the most obvious aspects of the program.  These include:

composer and composition of the week    the scripts    repetition of music ( a five-year plan )    music that is creative and interesting    length of composition (under five minutes)    complete works or movements

Composer and Composition of the Week

     The single most critical factor in achieving the outcomes of the non-directed listening program is repeated listening to the same composition.   This program is organized to present one composer and one composition for each week.   The composition is played daily.   This means the feature composition of the week is heard at least five times during a regular school week.  Familiarity provides the opportunity to get to know a composition.   What we tend to know, we tend to like.

     While there is research to support this concept, we need only think of our own experiences to realize it is just common sense:  How does a pop tune get to be in the top 40?  How do novels become best sellers?  Why do we read aloud to children?  Why do advertisers use the same ad for a period of time?  Why do companies have visual symbols, such as logos and trademarks? 

     The answer?  The more familiar we are with something, the more likely we are to be able to tell whether we like it or not, whether we want it in our lives or not.

     This uniquely designed program, developed over ten years and field-tested with thousands of students, has shown exciting results in student knowledge of the music and creativity of composers.

     The program has been enthusiastically received by students, teachers, administrators, and parents, and successfully implemented in a variety of school settings.

        The materials include a comprehensive resource book for teachers containing:

a five year program    a list of 131 musical selections organized by composer    daily scripts for each musical selection    learning outcomes    steps for successful implementation    extension activities    reference materials    a set of eight compact disks containing all musical selections

Effective Music Education

	cost-effective - 30¢ a day to provide quality music as a vital part of students' daily routine
	can be used by both specialist and non-specialist teachers
	ive years of music listening with NO additional teacher preparation

Students Say:

"The violin sounds nice and beautiful. It makes my mind clear." (Grade 4 student on Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik.)  

"It's very exciting. You can see pictures or scenes with horses." (Grade 6 student on "Hoe-Down" from Rodeo by Aaron Copland.)

"I wonder if Haydn had a favourite song out of all the songs he's written." (Grade 4 student after hearing the first movement of Haydn's Symphony No. 6.)

Sample scripts

Aaron Copland
Fanfare For The Common Man

Antonio Vivaldi
Oboe Concerto In D Minor

Teachers Say:

"The five-day repetition seems to be just right. By the third day, most of the kids are recognizing motifs and, by the fourth day, they are humming them."

"A great opportunity for children to relax and regain focus; a nice breather for me."

"I feel students are beginning to form opinions about the pieces they are hearing. Not only are they listening, they are also thinking about the music."

Administrators Say:

"Comments from visiting parents, volunteers, noon-hour supervisors have all been positive. They tell me, 'This is really nice,' and 'What a great idea.' "
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