Many music educators speak about student-centered or learner-centered music programs, but what do these terms mean? What is a student-centered ensemble or a learner-centered music class? These resources will support you in fostering and facilitating learner-centered music programs!
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Updated 1/29/2026
Contents
First Steps For Student-Centered Music Programs
Resources and Models
CCC Model
Orpheus Chamber Ensemble Process
Books On Student-Centeredness in Music Programs
- Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students – Kathryn Finch & Theresa Hoover
- Specific strategies for facilitating student-centered ensembles.
- The Learner-Centered Music Classroom: Models and Possibilities – David Williams & Jonathan R. Kladder
- Principles and approaches to help you develop a deeper understanding of learner-centered approaches in music programs.
- Re-mixing The Classroom: Toward an Open Philosophy of music Education – Randall Everett Allsup
- A philosophical exploration of what a more open type of music program could be. This book is excellent for developing a deeper understanding of the underlying principles to support learner-centered programs and related change in ensembles and classes.
Select Articles on Student-Centeredness in Music Programs
- Allsup, R. E. (2003). Mutual learning and democratic action in instrumental music education. Journal of Research in Music Education, 51(1), 24-37. doi:10.2307/3345646
- Blair, D. V. (2009). Stepping aside: Teaching in a student-centered music classroom. Music Educators Journal, 95(3), 42-45. doi: 10.1177/0027432108330760
- Brown, J. K. (2008). Student-centered instruction: Involving students in their own education. Music Educators Journal, 94(5), 30-35. doi: 10.1177/00274321080940050108
- Coss, R. G. (2019). Creative Thinking in Music: Student-Centered Strategies for Implementing Exploration Into the Music Classroom. General Music Today, 33(1), 29-37 doi: 10.1177/1048371319840654
- Gilbert, D. (2016). Curious, collaborative, creativity: Applying student-centered principles to performing ensembles. Music Educators Journal, 103(2), 27-34. doi: 10.1177/0027432116677553
Student-Centeredness in General Education
These resources may not be specific to music education settings, but they are valuable in broadening and deepening your understanding of student-centeredness and how you can design and facilitate learner-centered music programs.
