Bennett Reimer, 1932-2013

Pioneering music educator and author Bennett Reimer passed away on November 18 at the age of 81. Reimer’s A Philosophy of Music Education was the first if its kind in the world-wide field of music education, often cited as one of the most influential books of its kind.

Reimer authored some two dozen other books and over 150 published articles and chapters. He was also a frequent guest lecturer, advisor, workshopper, and project director all over the United States and Canada, and in many countries around the globe. In 1985 he established the Center for the Study of Education and the Musical Experience at Northwestern University, a weekly research forum for music education doctoral students and faculty, which continues to this day. 

Reimer was the recipient of several professional honors: an honorary doctorate from DePaul University, the Distinguished Service Award from the State University of New York at Fredonia (his undergraduate alma mater), the Kulas Endowed Chair at Case Western Reserve University, the Senior Researcher Award from the U.S. National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Legends of Teaching Award from Northwestern University, the President’s Award from the Illinois State Music Education Association, a Special Issue of the Journal of Aesthetic Education “Musings: Essays in Honor of Bennett Reimer” (1999), and induction into the NAfME Hall of Fame. 

See a video interview of Bennett Reimer as a part of NAMM’s Oral History Project here: http://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/bennett-reimer