Sociology and Music Education

Dr Ruth Wright is Associate Professor and Chair of Music Education in the Don Wright Faculty of Music, The University of Western Ontario, Canada.

'The ongoing changes of the musical landscape and digital devices during the last twenty years have had a huge impact on the musical behaviour and experiences in people's everyday life. The presence of music in all daily life and new ways of communication through social media has also influenced musical teaching and learning. Sociology and Music Education represents a strong body of new knowledge that illuminates several of the key issues in current music education. Consequently, the book is essential reading for all people involved in musical teaching and learning'. Bengt Olsson, University of Gothenburg, Sweden ’Ruth Wright has assembled an impressive list of contributors...a highly engaging and worthwhile addition to the literature which music educators should regard as required reading.’ teachingmusic.org.uk '... A fascinating book... I now feel I have a much clearer understanding of what is going on beneath the surface in the social dynamics which shape the development of music education. ...a highly engaging and worthwhile addition to the literature which music educators should regard as required reading. I suspect those, like me, outside academia may want to take this book slowly and carefully - but it is well worth the effort!' Teaching Music 'Of particular importance to less-experienced readers is the overview of social theories in the introductory chapters and the inclusion of such a variety of authors and hard-to-find topics related to music education. A valuable resource in sociology as well as music. Summing Up: Recommended.' Choice 'The first chapter...offers essential information for those new to sociological thought and an apt refresher for those with more familiarity. ... Chapter after chapter, Sociology and Music Education captures the reader with insightful and meaningful research.' Journal of Historical Research in Music Education

• Contents: Preface; Sociology and music education, Ruth Wright; Research in the sociology of music education: some introductory concepts, Lucy Green; Class, power, culture and the music curriculum, Ruth Wright and Brian Davies; Music education from the perspective of system theory, Geir Johansen; Unpopular music: beliefs and behaviours towards music in education, Alexandra Lamont and Karl Maton; The sociological critique of curriculum music in England: is radical change really possible?, Chris Philpott; Ethnicity and music education: sociological dimensions, David G. Hebert; Towards a sociological perspective on researching children's creative music-making practices: an exercise in self-consciousness, Panagiotis A. Kanellopoulos; Gender identity, musical experience and schooling, Lucy Green; Modernity, identity and musical learning, Geir Johansen; Towards a broader conception of creativity in the music classroom: a case for using Engeström's activity theory as a basis for researching and characterizing group music-making practices, Pamela Burnard and Betty Anne Younker; Revealing musical learning in the informal field, Sidsel Karlsen; Musikdidaktik and sociology, Geir Johansen; Culture, society and music education, Ruth Wright and John Finney; Listening to children: voice, agency and ownership in school musicking, Felicity Laurence; Democracy, social exclusion and music education: possibilities for change, Ruth Wright; Afterword, Christopher Small; Index.