Debates in Music Teaching

Debates in Music Teaching encourages student and practising teachers to engage with contemporary issues and developments in music education. It aims to introduce a critical approach to the central concepts and practices that have influenced major interventions and initiatives in music teaching, and supports the development of new ways of looking at ideas around teaching and learning in music.

Accessible and comprehensive chapters will stimulate thinking and creativity in relation to theory and practice, and will facilitate readers in reaching their own informed judgements and rationalising their position with deep theoretical knowledge and understanding. Throughout the book, international experts in the field consider key issues including:



the justification for music in the school curriculum

partnerships in music education and the identity of the music teacher

technology and conceptions of musicianship

social justice and music education

the place of diverse musical genres and traditions in the music curriculum

critical thinking and music education

autonomy and integrity for music in cross-curricular work

the politics, sociology and philosophy of music education.


Debates in Music Teaching is for all student and practising teachers interested in furthering their understanding of the subject. Including carefully annotated further reading and reflective questions to help shape research and writing, this collection stimulates critical and creative thinking in relation to contemporary debates within music education.

Chris Philpott is Dean of the School of Education and Reader in Music Education, University of Greenwich, UK.

Gary Spruce is Senior Lecturer in Education with responsibility for Music ITT, Open University, UK, and presently co-editor of The British Journal of Music Education.

Philosophical, Sociological and Psychological Foundations


What can reflective teachers learn from philosophies of music education? From Personal Philosophy to Critical Cultural Readership. Heidi Westerlund


Policy and Practice in Music Education: A Sociological Perspective. Ruth Wright


Creativity, Culture and the Practice of Music Education. John Finney


The Justification for Music in the Curriculum: Music Can be Bad for You. Chris Philpott


What is Musical Development and Can Education Make a Difference? Keith Swanwick

Political Perspectives

Music Education and Social Justice: Towards a Radical Political History and Vision. Paul Woodford


The National Curriculum as Manifest Destiny. Cathy Benedict and Patrick Schmidt


Musical Ideologies, Practices and Pedagogies: Addressing Pupil Alienation through a Praxial Approach to the Music Curriculum. Gary Spruce with Francesca Matthews

The Pedagogy of Music

Integrity and Autonomy for Music in a Creative and Cross-Curriculum. Jonathan Barnes


Assessment for Self Directed Learning in Music Education. Chris Philpott


Those Who Can – Play; Those Who Can't – Use Music Tech? How Can Teachers Knock Down the Walls Between Music and Music Technology? Jonathan Savage


Musical Knowledge, Critical Conscious and Critical Thinking. Gary Spruce


Music 14-19: Choices, Challenges, and Opportunities. Keith Evans


Partnerships in Music Education: So - Who is the Teacher? Katherine Zeserson

Professional Development

Teachers and Pupils as Researchers: Methods for Researching School Music. Tim Cain and Pamela Burnard


Professional Development and Music Education. Vanessa Young