The main purpose of this study will be to analyze the impressionistic style and techniques of Debussy, how the idiom came to be, and the influence of this particular idiom on two American composers. For thorough understanding, the poetic and artistic backgrounds of impressionism must be brought out; the biography of the man who originated the idiom, as well as his aesthetic theories, must be briefly covered. More objectively, from biographies and various other studies the techniques peculiarly impressionistic will be listed, and analysis will be made of several of the Debussy songs from various periods of his composition.

This study was made in conjunction with a recital of contemporary American song literature. It it designed to show how the modern composer has taken the tools of words and music and utilized them in creating a valid art-form. I believe it is the first study of its kind that has been made. The song literature which formed the basis of the study has been attested to as valid data by Otto Luening, prominent modern composer and pedagogue and twice winner of the Guggenheim Fellowship in composition, and John Kirk, distinguished pianist and lecturer on modern music.

It is the author's purpose, after a thorough study of published theory books, to present a proposed textbook in music theory to meet the needs of the average high school student.

The music of Bach becomes much more understandable through an examination of the composers who work before him. An examination of the music of the pre-Bach composers proves it to be amazingly fresh and vital, and it was in this field that Back sought inspiration.

Music educators admit that there is a great need for research in the field o public school music. Instrumental class teaching has suffered the trial and error method since its introduction into the schools. There is still an appalling lack of material on the subject. The two or three books published on instrumental class teaching are from twelve to seventeen years old. The Reader's Guide lists only nine magazine articles in the past ten years concerning the class teaching of string instruments. Yet, the successful teaching of instrumental classes requires a high type of organization and a specialized teaching technique. It is not only necessary for the teacher to be a good musician, but he must have a knowledge of proper classroom methods and apply it. The purpose of this study is to analyze and evolve from six recognized beginning string methods a course of study suitable for use in training a beginning string section.

For a long time there has been a growing conviction among the music graduates from colleges in Texas that the training of music teachers has been limited both from the standpoint of the number of hours offered in music for a degree and of the adequacy of the training received. The trends in music teacher education in Texas need to be evaluated in order to determine whether or not teacher training in this state is adequate. In comparing the adequacy of the school curriculum as far as the number of hours and courses is concerned, McEachern's A Survey and Evaluation of the Education of School Music Teachers in the United States will be used as a source of comparison, since this study is inclusive of the curricula of colleges over the United States.

Instrumental music classes in the public schools of Tulsa, Oklahoma, have experienced a phenomenal growth during the past twenty years. Prior to this period, opportunity for instrumental music expression was limited to the high school band and orchestra,which rehearsed outside of school hours. No instruction other than this was provided and the student who wished to play in the school band or orchestra studied first from private instructors. In this study the investigator has examined a great many devices for measuring capacities and aptitudes which are known to the profession. He has attempted to evaluate these procedures in the light of sound educational philosophy. He has set forth a plan which he believes will materially improve the instrumental program through discovering unsuspected musical capacity and through sound guidance in the selection of suitable instruments.