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 | | Music Matters: A New Philosophy of Music Education by David J. Elliott ISBN-10: 019509171X ISBN-10: 0-19-509171-X ISBN-13: 9780195091717 ISBN-13: 978-0-19-509171-7 Hardcover 1995-02-09 Oxford University Press, USA Find Lowest Price |
Editorials | ||
Product Description There is a mystery about music. On one hand, music making and music listening have occupied a prominent place in every culture since the dawn of recorded history and people everywhere continue to engage in a variety of musical experiences as part of their daily lives. Yet questions about the nature and value of music and its importance as a subject of education remain perplexing to many thinkers and are still hotly debated, even today. As a result, while music has been part of the school curriculum since antiquity, its profound contribution to general education has never been harnessed--until now. What is music? Does music deserve a place in general education? If so, why? Music Matters builds new answers to these basic questions through a wide-ranging examination of music as a diverse human practice. The result is a ground-breaking philosophy of music education that provides critically reasoned perspectives on the nature and significance of performing, listening, musicianship, multiculturalism, creativity, consciousness, curriculum development, and more. Indeed, Music Matters is exceptional for the attention it pays to many aspects of music and education that previous music education doctrine either misses or ignores altogether. Following an incisive critique of past thinking, this important text develops a multidimensional concept of music that explains why music making and listening are unique forms of thinking and unique sources of the most important kinds of knowing that human beings can gain. In a richly detailed narrative that examines a wealth of recent philosophical and psychological research, the author constructs a compelling philosophical foundation that allows teachers to affirm to themselves and others that music deserves a central place in the education of all people. Among the many working ideas of this new philosophy is a distinctive concept of "curriculum-as-practicum" that explains how music educators can fulfill their educational mandate. Invaluable as a core text for courses on foundations of music education or philosophy of music education at both the undergraduate and graduate level, Music Matters provides educators with critically reasoned perspectives on the "why, what, and how" of music teaching and learning, arguing convincingly that music is one of the most vital, dynamic, and practical pursuits in the human repertoire and, therefore, fundamental to the full development of the individual and collective self. | ||
Reviews | ||
The best resource for the contemporary music educator! Music Matters is a truly revolutionary book. David Elliott was the first person to challenge the "good 'ole boy" status quo developed by Bennett Reimer. The book is blunt and serious, while maintaining the positive, constructivist attitude that is necessary to promote change in our failing music education programs across the country. I bought Music Matters during my second year of public school teaching in the urban schools of Miami. David Elliott's book single-handedly prevented early music teacher burnout in me. The book revived my damaged and jaded view of the current state of music education in the public schools and provided hope for positive change in the future. The book is not "easy reading" by any means, but Elliott places discussion questions at the end of each chapter, and the central "praxial" ideas (meaning "to-do") connect each chapter throughout the book. I recommend that the reader take notes and write down critical questions while reading each chapter. It also helps to go back and re-read sections as you mature and develop more insight into your own personal philosophy of music education. I HIGHLY recommend this book as a first step toward developing and cultivating a post-modern philosophy of music education. Band, Orchestra, Choral, and General Music teachers can all benefit from the ideas presented in this book. One of the great things about Elliott is that he encourages critical, scholarly debate of his ideas. That is something that Reimer and his indoctrinated cohorts have never liked! The idea that musics beyond Western-Classical tradition can be used as a viable curriculum in the classroom is another reason to keep this book handy at all times. Furthermore, Elliott's ideas for apprenticeship and developing a reflective-practice musical curriculum are essential reading to any music educator. I truly believe the ideas Elliott espouses are crucial to the rebuilding and reinforcement of music education programs across the world. A 5-star rating for a 5-star book and 5-star pedagogue! | ||
brilliant and bold This is not a book simply for educators in music. It is a book for all music thinkers (listeners, performers, composers, teachers). Elliott tackles all aspects of music. He joins both philosophical and practical matters succinctly and because of this, Music Matters is a must for all involved in music. Elliott's expansive thinking and all-encompassing philosophy is much in need -- especially now. It is really a shame that writers such as Swanwick and Reimer have not caught on. | ||
Elliott's philosophy is still the BEST!! I just saw a review here by someone who claims that Elliott's praxial philosophy is 'old' now that Reimer has published his third edition. But this person makes several false statements in his review. First, Elliott's philosophy states that all students should learn ALL forms of music making and listening. Elliott does NOT advocate a performance-only philosophy. This 'performance-only' claim against Elliott is pure rubbish; it is dis-information by Reimer and his un-thinking clones. Second, Reimer says nothing new in his third edition; his philosphy still rests squarely on Langer's old philosophy, which has been rejected by 95% of the world's leading music philosophers, including Kivy, Davies and others. | ||
Elliott's "Old" philosophy of music education Since the publication of Bennett Reimer's third edition of A Philosophy of Music Education: Advancing the Vision, (2003) Elliott's book becomes passe. While Elliott single-mindedly advances music education as performance education, Reimer is inclusive of all the ways people enjoy music, and proposes a music education that is inclusive of the way music really is in our world. His is a brand "new philosophy" of music education, while Elliott's now seems dated and tired indeed. The reviews and ratings of Reimer's book are of the previous edition. Everyone who reads the third edition will find it revelatory -- a new way to conceive what music education has been and needs to be. | ||
A new paradigm Elliott 's book is a major and brilliant achievement. Never has our field seen anything close to this kind of superb thinking, writing, and scholarship. Elliott sets a new standard, far above the weak mush Reimer has always churned out. Still, Elliott gives full credit to Reimer in Music Matters (chp. 2) for Reimer's earlier work in music education philosophy. Elliott's critics conveniently overlook the fact that Elliott gives this credit, let alone how graciously he does it. Elliott's critics also fail to understand what philosophy is: to do Philosophy is to reflect critically on the efforts of other thinkers, past and present. This is exactly what Elliott does on the way to providing a fine alternative to Reimer's restricted aesthetic view; and Elliott does this brilliantly, with excellent logic and clear explanations. In addition, Elliott never attacks Reimer as a person (whereas Reimer is fond of attacking Elliott personally in his MEJ tirades and elswhere). | ||