“A Personal Philosophy of Music Education”

As a professional music educator, your philosophy of education, and thereby music education, is an active agent whenever you make decisions that affect the “Why” and “What” of curricular practice. The purpose of this paper is for you to verbalize your current philosophy in response to the initial questions posed in this course: “why” (why schooling, why music as part of schooling) To answer this, consider two aspects of this question:

First, examine what you see as the “why” of formal education, or “schooling” (total curriculum, not just music). what do you believe are the underlying assumptions as to the ultimate value and purpose of education which guide decision makers as they make curricular plans, call for reform, seek innovation and change?

Second, examine these same questions as they apply specifically to music education. What do you consider the underlying assumptions as to the value and purpose of music education?

(Warning; don’t get caught up in what and how! Focus on the basic questions: Why would music be included in the curriculum of today’s students?)

Included must be your belief concerning:

* High expectations for student acheivement
* Respect for diversity and individual differences of students
* Teacher preparation and professionalism
* Clasroom environment and instruction

(Copy your philosophy from your word processed document into this frame erasing the assignment description above.)