A content analysis of selected music textbook series at the elementary level

This study attempted to identify the lesson objective emphases demonstrated within 1988 music text series, kindergarten through grade 5. A content analysis instrument was developed to determine a music goals composite and elements consensus. The 11 music goals composite was derived from a synthesis of the Music Educators National Conference and the Illinois Fine Arts Goal recommendations. The 8 music elements consensus categories were derived from a synthesis of each of the three text series definitions of their elements. A review of five historical and philosophical periods of United States music education provided an evolution trace of music curriculum goals and elements leading to current text offerings.;Content analysis methodology was used on 1,670 lesson objectives found in the text series teachers' editions. Of the 13,712 goals and elements categories cited, the frequencies and percentages calculated demonstrated varied rankings within and between each K-5 text series with few exceptions.;An analysis of the findings of the study provided the basis for the following conclusions: (1) The goals for Notation/Vocabulary and Performance were primarily emphasized within each text series; (2) the criterion for the goal of Expressive Qualities/Aesthetics was also, to a lesser degree, consistently emphasized within all text series; and (3) the goals for Improvisation/Creation and Independent Learning/Commitment were rarely emphasized within each text series. All other goals composite categories varied greatly within and between each text series. The music elements consensus categories also had varied lesson objective emphases within and between each text series. The study also revealed a ranked order of each text series lesson objective emphases at each K-5 level.