This textbook enhances preservice and practicing music educators' understanding of ways to successfully engage children in music composition. It offers both a rationale for the presence of composition in the music education program and a thorough review of what we know of children's compositional practices to date. Minds On Music offers a solid foundation for planning and implementing composition lessons with students in grades PreK-12.

"Established authors and music educators, Kaschub and Smith partnered with the National Association for Music Education to publish this book on the importance of children composing music. . . . Including valuable tables and charts, the book covers five age groups and highlights child development and musical progression. . . . This well-researched volume will benefit music educators, cross-curriculum advocates, and students of all ages. Recommended." - CHOICE, December 2009

"The teaching and learning of composing in schools is so much ingrained into the English National Curriculum that it takes a book such as this to jolt British readers out of an established mindset, and to consider alternative ways of doing things….this book serves two audiences: academic researchers investigating the construct of educational composing, and teachers who wish to introduce or develop their classroom practice in this area….it offers a welcome addition to the literature on classroom composing." - British Journal of Music Education

"Minds on Music is a thorough, highly effective guide to facilitating composition activities and assessing student progress in preK-12 school music programs. This book would be most useful to novice teachers starting a program, composers who are new to teaching, and experienced composition teachers seeking fresh ideas. It is well organized, lending itself to quick reference use as well." - Music Educators Journal