n September
20-21 the music education department hosted Ithaca Conference
'96: Music as Intelligence for over 300 registrants from throughout
the United States and Canada. The first-of-its-kind symposium
gathered together college and university music educators, administrators,
classroom teachers, and students to examine Howard Gardner's theory
of multiple intelligences, with a special focus on musical intelligence.
Gardner, professor of education and adjunct professor of psychology at Harvard University, delivered the keynote address Friday evening. He focused his remarks on music as "a privilege organizer for cognitive processes." His address set the context for the entire symposium.
 Keynote speaker Howard Gardner (left) chats with music school dean Arthur Ostrander and College president James J. Whalen. |  Among the presenters at the conference was Frances Rauscher (right). Art/Sciennce Studio\Lab photos |
On Saturday morning Gardner entertained prepared questions at a moderated question and answer session. The conference also featured presentations by Frances Rauscher, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; Bruce Torff, a research scientist in educational psychology at Yale University; Don Hodges, professor of music at the University of Texas at San Antonio; Cathy Kassell, a music teacher and a Ph.D. candidate at Columbia Teachers College; Mark Campbell, assistant professor of music education at the State University College at Potsdam; and Charles Elliott, coordinator of music education at the University of Southern Mississippi.
The objectives of the conference were to provide a forum for discus-sing
the multidimensional view of intelligence and its implication
for music education and to contribute to the literature on the
topic. The School of Music is currently compiling a source book
that will include the seven papers presented as well as Gardner's
"q & a" session.