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Philosophical Perspectives

CBDNA Report on Preparing the 21st Century Artist–Teacher

The College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) report on Preparing the 21st Century Artist-‐Teacher is now available. The report is the result of two panel presentations at the 2014 Ithaca College Conference on Instrumental Music Education: Preparing the 21st Century Artist-‐Teacher. I was privileged to be invited to take part in this initiative and engage in dialogue with a wonderful group of people at the conference. The panelists, whose answers to a series of questions make up the report, included:… Read More »CBDNA Report on Preparing the 21st Century Artist–Teacher

From STEM to STEAM!

In a particularly savvy move the National Association for Music Education is organizing a major effort to broaden the narrow and exclusionary (science, technology, engineering, and Math (STEM) discourse to the inclusive and more holistic STEAM (A = arts) discourse through the get STEAMed initiative. We have been through this before with the Sputnik era and Back to Basics movements among other initiatives that focused on science, technology, engineering, and math while excluding other aspects of education and ways of… Read More »From STEM to STEAM!

Journalism and the perpetuation of the “declining Music Education” trope

A recent article by Zachary Woolfe in the New York Times, Tested Out Upstate: Classical’s Future: Orchestras in Albany, Rochester and Buffalo Stay Nimble, is not about music education but perpetuates the myth that music education is on the decline or is “decimated.” This trope has a long tradition in a range of journalism even though it is rarely backed up by evidence or the voices of certified music educators. The article Apparently, We Disappeared by Lauren Kapalka Richerme traces… Read More »Journalism and the perpetuation of the “declining Music Education” trope

National Core Arts Standards Public Review: Music and Media Arts for your consideration

The Core Arts Standards are now available for public review. A video orientation helps in providing some background information but you will probably want to take a look at the conceptual framework of the core arts standards as well. It is critical that music educators participate in the public review process, analyze the proposed standards, provide specific feedback and critique, and propose potential alternatives if they are not satisfied with those proposed. It may be helpful to consider concrete examples… Read More »National Core Arts Standards Public Review: Music and Media Arts for your consideration

Philosophical thinking & Music Education: International Symposium on the Philosophy of Music Education IX

If you did not attend the International Symposium on the Philosophy of Music Education (ISPME) IX you can read Roger Mantie’s reflections on the conference. Mantie speaks about the importance of “grappling with big questions” and how ISPME fosters a community where this can occur. Whether or not one attends ISPME, philosophical thinking can occur in our own practice ranging from curriculum development and planning to department meetings and casual conversations while “talking shop.” The field is certainly stronger due… Read More »Philosophical thinking & Music Education: International Symposium on the Philosophy of Music Education IX