The following four articles are the outcome of a project initiated and nurtured by Richard Addison, Lecturer in Music in the School of Eduction at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, who, for many years, has been widely acclaimed for his innovative work in fostering children's creative musical abilities.

The writer looks at the meanings of the word ‘play’ and its properties, and draws attention to the common elements and the differences to be observed in the play of young people and adults respectively. He applies these observations to music, giving examples.

He then considers how classroom teachers have used some of the ‘play’ principles in their work, and introduces the idea of drawing instrumental teachers into similar patterns of action – to be fully developed in the other articles in this group. He summarises recent writings on the subject and his own practical contributions over the last few years.

The author, troubled by doubts about the value for pupils’ general education of violin teaching, sets about finding out, by interview and open discussion, what the problems are, for teachers and pupils alike; and having analysed them, sets herself the task of trying solve some of them.

Encouraging pupils to compose music that will help them overcome their own technical difficulties is a fruitful start, and one that can lead to further developments of great promise for the future of music education. By evaluating the processes and outcomes of this creative work it is possible to throw light and understanding on learning and teaching processes in both violin playing and composition.

This article is written to show that composition can become an integral part of an instrumental teacher's methodology. Current musical education in schools in England and Wales is trying to give children a broad understanding of what music can contribute to the lives of all - listeners and performers. The starting point for this is composition. If instrumental teachers can introduce children to this discipline along with the disciplines of instrumental technique and a love of performing, we can create true, well-balanced musicians.

Through this approach it is possible that we can develop an integrated music curriculum that joins together the expertise of the classroom music teacher and the instrumental teacher, with resulting benefits to children, who can then see that music is not divided between the creative classroom and the re-creative instrumental and performing worlds.

This article explores the development of musical language, as it takes place alongside the study of an instrument. More than simply the ability to read the printed score, musical literacy may be achieved creatively through improvisation and composition from the earliest lessons. The basis of this learning is through training the memory of the inner ear.