The Responsibility of Music to Education

Abstract

“THE RESPONSIBILITY of Music Education to Music” was the subject of an address by William Schuman, president of the Juilliard School of Music, at a general session of the recent convention of the MENC at St. Louis, Missouri. Many in the audience were in agreement, at least in principle, with the speaker. Others, while in sympathy with Mr. Schuman's point of view, felt that it was not fully in accord with the common conception of the basic purpose of music instruction as part of the educational program. The address aroused so much discussion that it was published in the June-July 1956 issue of the official magazine to give a larger audience of music educators something to think about. The comments on Mr. Schuman's article here printed represent what the author believes to be the viewpoint of a great many persons who are concerned with music instruction in the schools as one of the important elements of public education. Mr. Normann, associate professor of music education in the University of Washington, Seattle, is chairman of the MENC Music Education Research Council, which has as one of its major current assignments the functions of MENC Music in American Life Commission I, “Basic Concepts in Music Education.” Mr. Normann stipulates his article presents his own personal understanding of the purpose and province of music teaching in the school curriculum as interpreted by most music educators. Others may have different ideas which they would like to express.