Facing the Music

Facingthe Music investigates the practices and ideas that have grown fromsome five decades of cultural diversity in music education,developments in ethnomusicology, and the rise of 'world music'.Speaking from rich, hands-on experience of more than thirty years atvarious levels of music education (music in schools, communityorganizations and professional training courses), Huib Schippersmakes a powerful case for the crucial role of learning music inshaping rich and diverse musical environments for the 21st century,both in practical terms and at a conceptual level: "what we hearis the product of what we believe about music."

Advocatinga contemporary, positive and realistic approach to cultural diversityin music education and transmission, Schippers advocates taking intoaccount and celebrating the natural dynamics of music. He argues that"most music travels remarkably well", and regards everymusical act as an expression of the 'here and now', as do many of themusicians and scholars he quotes. In this way, he challenges stiflingdirectives to recreate 'authentic contexts', which in fact constantlychange (and have always changed) in the cultures of origin as well.This liberates music educators to seek with integrity appropriateways of presenting music at all levels of education: in schools,community settings, and professional training.

Inseven succinct chapters that each approach the issues from adifferent angle, Schippers gradually unfolds the complexities oflearning and teaching music 'out of context' in an accessible manner,and presents a coherent model to approach these, as well as lucidsuggestions for translating the resulting ideas in practice. Whilemapping the various factors that determine all acts of musictransmission, he also comes to surprising insights into the natureand preconceptions underlying much formal music education settingsacross the world, including those focusing on western classicalmusic.

Facingthe Music provides a rich resource for reflection and practice forall those involved in teaching and learning music, from policy makerto classroom teacher.