Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-wq484 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T12:11:44.863Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Philosophical Foundations of Music Education: The Case of Primary Music Education in Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2008

Nita Temmerman
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Primary music education programme development and implementation is founded on philosophical beliefs about the purpose of music education.

Primary classroom teachers who ultimately have responsibility for development and implementation of the music education programme formulate their philosophical beliefs about the purpose of music education based on a multitude of variables. Whilst their own past music experiences and education assume significance in the formation of a music education philosophy, the primary music curriculum documents provided by education authorities constitute an important source for teachers' current philosophical opinion about the purpose of music education.

Two philosophical arguments have thus far formed the basis of the purpose of music education in the history of the western world, namely, the intrinsic and extrinsic arguments. Primary music curriculum documents have also been based on one (or perhaps both), of these philosophical views about the purpose of music education.

In this article a discussion of the philosophical foundations of music education, with special reference to primary music education in Australia, is presented. Five primary music curriculum documents will be looked at, and commentary given about the current philosophical status of Australian primary music education and the implications for programme development and implementation.

Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Music Education , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , July 1991 , pp. 149 - 159
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abeles, H. F., Hoffer, C. R. & Klotman, R. H. (1984) Foundations of Music Education. New York: Schirmer Books.Google Scholar
Barcan, A. (1980) A History of Australian Education. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Bartle, G. (1968) Music in Australian Schools. Victoria: A.C.E.R.Google Scholar
Brocklehurst, . (1971) Response to Music. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.Google Scholar
Broudy, H. S. (1987) How basic is aesthetic education? Council for Research in Music Education Bulletin, 57, 1.Google Scholar
Brumbaugh, R. S. (1987) Plato's ideal curriculum and contemporary philosophy of education. Educational Theory, 37 (2), 169–77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cheong, S. (1978) Music education as aesthetic education. The Australian Journal of Music Education, 23, 21–23.Google Scholar
Cleverley, J. F. (1971) The First Generation, School and Society in Early Australia. Sydney: Sydney University Press.Google Scholar
Curriculum Branch, Education Department of Western Australia. (1982) Music in Schools. Stage One and Stage Two.Google Scholar
Department of Education, N.S.W. (1984) Music (K-6) Syllabus and Support Statements.Google Scholar
Dewey, J. (1916) Democracy and Education. New York: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Education Department, Tasmania, Australia. (1988) Music in Primary Schools.Google Scholar
Elliot, C. A. (1983) Behind die budget crisis, a crisis of philosophy. Music Educator's Journal, 10, 36–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Engel, M. (1980) Getting serious about arts education. Principal, 09, 6–10.Google Scholar
Grout, D. J. (1973) A History of Western Music. New York: W. W. Norton & Co.Google Scholar
Henry, N. B. (Ed.) (1958) Basic Concepts in Music Education. Chicago: National Society for the Study of Education.Google Scholar
Hope, S. (1985) Policy Questions in Music Education: Opportunity, Content, Partnership, Finding and Politics. Reston, VA: M.E.N.C.Google Scholar
Howard, M. B. (1980) Arts education. Have we come to our senses? Principal, 09, 15–19.Google Scholar
Leonard, C. (1965) The philosophy of music education – present and future. C.M.P./Music Educators National Conference. Washington D.C., 42–9.Google Scholar
Leonard, C. & House, R. W. (1972) Foundation and Principles of Music Education. New York: McGraw Hill.Google Scholar
Maclaine, A. G. (1978) Australian Education: Progress, Problems and Prospects. Sydney: Ian Novak.Google Scholar
Mark, M. L. (1982a) The evolution of music education philosophy from utilitarian to aesthetic. Journal of Research in Music Education, 30 (1), 15–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mark, M. L. (1982 a) Source Readings in Music Education History. New York: Schirmer Books.Google Scholar
Miller, F. (1988) Music in our schools: the case for realism. Design for Arts in Education, 05/06, 38–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ministry of Education (Schools Division), Victoria. (1988) The Arts Framework: P-10.Google Scholar
Ninth Report of the Victorian Board of Education. (1871) Victoria, Australia, Vol. 3.Google Scholar
Northern Territory Department of Education, Darwin. (1987) The Arts for Primary Schools Years T-7.Google Scholar
Rainbow, B. (Ed.) (1968) Handbook for Music Teachers. London: Novello & Co.Google Scholar
Reimer, B. (1970) The Philosophy of Music Education. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.Google Scholar
Reimer, B. (1989) Music education as aesthetic education, past and present. Music Educator's Journal, 75 (6), 22–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sunderman, L. F. (1972) New Dimensions in Music Education. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press Inc.Google Scholar
Swanger, D. (1982) Shadow and light: Read, Dewey, Plato and aesthetic education. Boston University Journal of Education, 164 (3), 256–70.Google Scholar
Swanwick, K. (1979) A Basis for Music Education. London: NFER Pub. Co.Google Scholar
Treloar, . (1986) The Importance of Music (Fourth G. A. Anderson Memorial Lecture). Armidale: University of New England.Google Scholar
Turney, C. (Ed.) (1975) Sources in the History of Australia – Education 1788–1970. Sydney: Angus and Robertson.Google Scholar
Weiss, P. & Taruskin, R. (1984) Music in the Western World. New York: Schirmer Books.Google Scholar