• Latest
  • Trending
General Music – The Core of Music Education

General Music – The Core of Music Education

April 2, 2023
Spinning My Wheels! Lamentations, Reflections, and Reset Plans of a Bewildered Choir Director

Spinning My Wheels! Lamentations, Reflections, and Reset Plans of a Bewildered Choir Director

June 13, 2025
Tips for Low Brass Players Who Want to Major in Music…or Just Want to Get Better!

Tips for Low Brass Players Who Want to Major in Music…or Just Want to Get Better!

June 12, 2025
About Myra Rhoden

About Myra Rhoden

June 11, 2025
It’s Time to Speak Up

It’s Time to Speak Up

June 10, 2025
Celebrating 25 Years of Gator Cases: A Legacy of Innovation, Education, and Family

Celebrating 25 Years of Gator Cases: A Legacy of Innovation, Education, and Family

June 7, 2025
Proel North America and Grassi Wind Instruments Celebrate 80 Years of Musical Excellence with Santa Monica Symphony Sponsorship

Proel North America and Grassi Wind Instruments Celebrate 80 Years of Musical Excellence with Santa Monica Symphony Sponsorship

June 4, 2025
The Conductor’s Place in the Musical Universe

The Conductor’s Place in the Musical Universe

May 29, 2025
The Boy Shortage

The Boy Shortage

May 27, 2025
Preserving What Matters: Focus on Federal Educational Functions, Not Institutions

Preserving What Matters: Focus on Federal Educational Functions, Not Institutions

May 27, 2025
Enhancing Your Performance: The Importance of Visual Presentation

Enhancing Your Performance: The Importance of Visual Presentation

May 22, 2025
Starting Strong: Why Foundational Music Instruction Matters

Starting Strong: Why Foundational Music Instruction Matters

May 21, 2025
More Than Just the Notes: Assessing Difficulty in Marching Band Shows

More Than Just the Notes: Assessing Difficulty in Marching Band Shows

May 19, 2025
Monday, June 16, 2025
  • Contact
SBO+
  • Subscribe to SBO+
    • Subscribe
    • Login/Manage Subscription
  • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Advertise
  • Teachers’ Choice Awards
  • Columns
    • New Products
    • Travel/Festivals
      • Fundraising
    • UpClose
      • Features
      • Commentary
      • Advocacy
      • MAC Corner
      • Inclusion
      • Milestones
      • MusicEd: Mentor Minute
      • Perspective
      • InService
    • Technology
      • Audio Tech
    • Performance
      • Wind Talkers
      • Percussion
      • GoodVibes
      • Repertoire
      • Playing Tips
      • Modern Band
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Tone Deaf Comics
  • Teacher Nomination
  • Support
    • Email PR!
No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe to SBO+
    • Subscribe
    • Login/Manage Subscription
  • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Advertise
  • Teachers’ Choice Awards
  • Columns
    • New Products
    • Travel/Festivals
      • Fundraising
    • UpClose
      • Features
      • Commentary
      • Advocacy
      • MAC Corner
      • Inclusion
      • Milestones
      • MusicEd: Mentor Minute
      • Perspective
      • InService
    • Technology
      • Audio Tech
    • Performance
      • Wind Talkers
      • Percussion
      • GoodVibes
      • Repertoire
      • Playing Tips
      • Modern Band
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Tone Deaf Comics
  • Teacher Nomination
  • Support
    • Email PR!
No Result
View All Result
SBO+
No Result
View All Result

General Music – The Core of Music Education

April 2, 2023
in NAfME Neighborhood, April 2023
0
General Music – The Core of Music Education
400
SHARES
2.4k
VIEWS
Share on Facebook
ADVERTISEMENT

When you think of general music what immediately comes to mind? Do you think of children singing or using solfege? Do you imagine children playing Orff instruments? Do you think of movement experiences or folk dances? Do you think back to your experiences in general music education classes? When you think of general music education, do you only think general music with elementary aged children? One final question. What exactly is general music education? 

In all honesty, I imagine most of us reading this magazine are music educators because of our secondary music education experiences. We chose music education because of the way performing in band, orchestra, or choir made us feel. For some of us, our secondary music teachers were the reason we chose a career in music education. Our performing experiences shaped us into who we are today. There is nothing wrong with admitting our career intentions were based upon positive experiences with performing ensembles. In fact, we should celebrate the power music has to change hearts and minds and provide students with positive experiences in their human development.  

We’ve all had positive outcomes with secondary music education; however, there are thousands of students who didn’t have the opportunity or chose not to participate in secondary music education. Since the 1960s, researchers, professional organizations, and authors have continuously written about music education serving only around 20% of the overall secondary student population. This is not a condemnation of what we are currently doing in music education. We should never discredit what music education is doing for the 20%. Our profession should ask what we can do to open music education pathways for the other 80% who are unable, or unwilling, to continue music education in secondary schools.   

Let’s return to my original question. What is general music education? As it stands now general music education is primarily found in elementary schools. General music is, in most elementary schools, compulsory. General music is also a nebulous term that has been used to describe a variety of learning situations, conditions, and approaches for elementary music education. General music is the only place in music education that provides a space and place for all teachers and all students. While many of these statements might be true, general music is and should be much more to the music education ecosystem. 

General music should exist because it is beneficial to the development of students. We could cite research that supports this claim. However, the most powerful testimonies will come from students and adults who experienced the transformative power of music education. We all know music education has both intrinsic and extrinsic value. Our advocacy usually focuses on the extrinsic value of music education – collaboration, higher test scores, school pride, work ethic, and many other factors. However, music education has benefits that aren’t easily qualifiable. We need to find ways to advocate for music for ALL students – that includes advocating for general music beyond the elementary school and exploratory courses in middle grades. 

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

General music should be the core of all music education experiences. A well-worn mantra in most educational circles is that all teachers are reading teachers because we all use reading to learn in our respective disciplines. I would argue that all music teachers should be general music teachers. Every music experience whether it’s in band, orchestra, choir, music production, popular music, guitar, or music appreciation should provide students with opportunities to perform, respond, create, connect, and think about music in ways that are transferable to students’ personal experiences. If our goal is to create students who will interact with music throughout their lives, then we must teach all students skills and knowledge to enable them to be lifelong musicians. 

We often fall into the trap of seeing every earlier level of music education as a feeder program for later levels. Music education is not compulsory in most secondary schools; this leads to gaps in instruction. Think of how powerful our music education system could be if we provided students multiple opportunities to build knowledge, skills, and experiences that empowered them to want to continue to explore other music education opportunities. Secondary general music could be the on-ramp to a variety of music education experiences and propel students to life-long music making. 

General music might need to rebrand. As comfortable as many of us are with the term “general music,” I know many people make assumptions about the type of education based on the term. Many people think general music is akin to a survey course that provides students with a variety of music experiences. What if we viewed general music classrooms as incubators of student curiosity? My hope is the general music classroom is a place where all students are actively engaging with music in multiple ways. Providing an engaging, sequential, and comprehensive general music education should prepare students for a life full of interacting with music.  

ADVERTISEMENT

To provide music teachers with the best professional development, the NAfME Council for General Music Education, in collaboration with other national general music organizations, will host the first NAfME General Music ZOOM Conference April 29, 2023. We will host sessions representing a multitude of general music approaches and methods. Please look for registration information on NAfME’s social media channels (@NAfME), publications, and e-mail newsletters during the spring semester.

NAfME.org

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Conducting Symposiums: Which one is best for you?

Next Post

Managing Props for Your Theatrical Production

Next Post
Managing Props for Your Theatrical Production

Managing Props for Your Theatrical Production

Please login to join discussion
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
50 Music Teachers Who Make a Difference

50 Music Teachers Who Make a Difference

December 2, 2024
When Selecting New Choral Music, Choose Success

When Selecting New Choral Music, Choose Success

February 26, 2025
Concert Band Set-up Fundamentals

Concert Band Set-up Fundamentals

August 29, 2019
The Immediate Threat to School Music Programs

The Immediate Threat to School Music Programs

May 6, 2025

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

0

BriLee’s Brian Busch: Man With a Mission

0

Third Annual Choral Directors of Note

0

July 2010

0
Spinning My Wheels! Lamentations, Reflections, and Reset Plans of a Bewildered Choir Director

Spinning My Wheels! Lamentations, Reflections, and Reset Plans of a Bewildered Choir Director

June 13, 2025
Tips for Low Brass Players Who Want to Major in Music…or Just Want to Get Better!

Tips for Low Brass Players Who Want to Major in Music…or Just Want to Get Better!

June 12, 2025
About Myra Rhoden

About Myra Rhoden

June 11, 2025
It’s Time to Speak Up

It’s Time to Speak Up

June 10, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
  • June 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • May 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • April 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • March 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • February 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
© 2005 - 2025 artistpro, LLC
7012 City Center Way, Suite 207
Fairview, Tennessee 37062
(800) 682-8114

No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe to SBO+
    • Subscribe
    • Login/Manage Subscription
  • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Advertise
  • Teachers’ Choice Awards
  • Columns
    • New Products
    • Travel/Festivals
      • Fundraising
    • UpClose
      • Features
      • Commentary
      • Advocacy
      • MAC Corner
      • Inclusion
      • Milestones
      • MusicEd: Mentor Minute
      • Perspective
      • InService
    • Technology
      • Audio Tech
    • Performance
      • Wind Talkers
      • Percussion
      • GoodVibes
      • Repertoire
      • Playing Tips
      • Modern Band
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Tone Deaf Comics
  • Teacher Nomination
  • Support
    • Email PR!

© 2005 - 2024 artistpro, LLC 7012 City Center Way, Suite 207 Fairview, Tennessee 37062 (800) 682-8114

Wenger EndurAd Promo