Music 314
Foundations & Principles of Music Education

Dr. Peter LaRue, Instructor

Handout - Talking Points #2

The Purpose of Music Education

The best way to "teach" music is to have students undergo experiences with and about music itself. The expressive import of music merits primary emphasis. Without this expression, music has no significant meaning

The following are, and should be the results of successful participation in public school music programs:
1)  enable students to discover their level of musical talent and provide experiences with and about music to develop these talents

2)  enable students to develop their musicianship to the highest possible level. The goal is to develop the students' musicianship and not produce students who only respond mindlessly to the cues of a conductor

3)  enable students to develop reflective discrimination that gives them a basis for controlling the aesthetic quality of their Musical lives and makes that quality a matter of reflective choice not chance

4)  reveal to all students the richness and breadth of their Musical heritage

5)  induct all students into a unique system of non‑verbal symbols through which the most noble thoughts and feelings of humans have been expressed and can be communicated

6)  engage and develop the imagination of all students and enable them to develop these potentialities

7)  admit all students to a creative mode by which they can enrich their lives through expression and respond to the expression of others

8)  prepare students to participate fully in the rites and rituals of society

9)  enable all students to develop resources for positive social interaction

10) enable students to develop resources for a rewarding life

11) provide a means for students to gain and develop self‑confidence

12) provide a focus for both self and group discipline