Michael L. Mark is the author of several books, including Contemporary Music Education and Source Readings in Music Education History. He is professor emeritus of Towson University where he also served as dean of the Graduate School. Charles L. Gary was the author of several music education books and executive director of the Music Educators National Conference.

Honoring the legacy of generations of music educators and mapping pathways that guided and advanced the profession, the authors have illuminated how history can inform contemporary practice. The narrative provides compelling testimony for advocating music education that can add depth and meaning to everyday life in the music classroom. A valuable and accessible book that has an important place in the music educator's professional library.

• Part 1 ForewordPart 2 Part I: The Western HeritageChapter 3 The Ancient Jewish TraditionChapter 4 The Age of AntiquityChapter 5 Music Education from the Early Christian Era to the ReformationPart 6 Part II: The New World: AmericaChapter 7 Early Music Education in the New WorldChapter 8 The New England Roots of American Music EducationPart 9 Part III: Early American EducationChapter 10 Education for A New Democracy: Building a NationChapter 11 The Pestalozzian Education Reform MovementChapter 12 The Beginnings of Music in American SchoolsPart 13 Part IV: The Growth of Music EducationChapter 14 Music Education in an Industrializing AmericaChapter 15 The Development of Professional Education OrganizationsChapter 16 The Beginning of the Music Educators National ConferenceChapter 17 The Broadening Music CurriculumChapter 18 The Music Educators National Conference MaturesPart 19 Part V: Music Education after 1950Chapter 20 American Education after 1950Chapter 21 Government, Foundation, and Not-for-Profit Support for Arts EducationChapter 22 New Foundations of Music EducationChapter 23 New Curricular Foundations of Music EducationChapter 24 The Twenty-first CenturyChapter 25 Reflections