I’m excited to report the publication of a recent article I wrote for the Music Educators Journal titled: “The future of music education: Continuing the dialogue about curricular reform”
The heart of this article is captured in the opening quote: “The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order.” Alfred North Whitehead
In this article I highlight several trends regarding critical arguments that have recently been raised when discussing the secondary large-ensemble tradition in the public schools. In support of secondary school ensembles, I argue for a discussion of curricular reform that avoids polemical rhetoric, straw men, and hasty generalization. I also suggest taking special care when considering the incorporation of new technologies and popular music idioms in music education curricula.
I describe how critical energies might be redirected to what I see as urgent needs for the profession such as:
- Directing advocacy efforts towards increasing access to music education for underserved populations of children
- Focusing advocacy efforts towards enhancing support for foundational elementary music experiences
- Transforming teaching to maximize what’s possible from within the large-ensemble model without needlessly tearing it down by:
- Increasing the breadth of comprehensive musicianship experiences possible
- Increasing the degree of individual student empowerment
- Broadening the range of collaborative approaches to music-making that teachers and students could engage in
- Broadening the inclusiveness of repertoire in large-ensemble curricula
After briefly, yet sincerely, acknowledging the certain need to expand curricular offerings for music in the secondary schools, I close with the following:
“…it will be necessary to cultivate dispositions of patience and reflection with visions of curricular transformation if we hope for significant and lasting changes in the nature and quality of music education for all.”
Please check out the full article here (free to all NAfME members – or email me if you’d like to read it):
Pete Miksza 
I’d like to read it. Can you email it to me?
I would like to read this. I am a music teacher in India