Music's Place in Education

Abstract

This article examines four questions that address the issue of music's perceived role in the process of education. These questions are: Why should music be part of the education of all children? What is the role of music in personal/educational development? How do the goals of music education align with those of general education? How can we justify the role of music in education in ways others understand? The article first considers the two assumptions underlying the argument for making music part of child education: that music contributes something unique and essential to human life, and this “something” cannot be achieved without formal instruction. It then explores the distinctions between education and training, the difference between educating in and educating through music, and whether formal schooling is itself educational. It also discusses advocacy as a strategy used by music educators to persuade others of the importance and integrity of current practices and argues that music education must be as concerned with changing itself as it is with winning the support of others.

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