Throughout the history of public school music in the United States, one of the problems which has continually been in the foreground is that of music reading, It is primarily a problem for the elementary school as that is the place where reading must begin in order for the children's interest and ability to be balanced. The elementary school is the focal point for the teaching of all skills and tools in learning. Certainly, reading is one of the major tools in the process of musical learning. In many cases the ability of the students to read music has been the basic criterion of the entire music program. Davison states that the aim and end of a large percentage of instruction has for so long been to train students to sing music at sight that it has grown to be a fetish. While such a standard as that is an over-emphasis of reading, most music educators will agree that the place of music reading in the elementary school is of utmost importance. The differences of opinions lie not so much in the goals to be reached as in the methods of reaching them. The purpose of this study is not …

The purpose of this study is to present a personal interpretation of progressive education and its function in "teaching" primary music. A few supplementary aids are provided to correlate with the Amarillo, Texas, Course of Study for Primary Grades to lend aid and encouragement toward a rhythmic approach to child learning.