James Moyer’s Philosophy of Music Education

James Moyer’s Philosophy of Music Education

James Moyer

Dr. Vodicka

ATM I

5/3/19
James Moyer’s Philosophy of Music Education

Abstract

This essay will include ideas of how to create a successful music education program in a public

school. What should be taught and how it should be taught. It will go over ideals and how a

school system should view these ideals. It will discuss how music should be taught and what

methods to use, as well as how a school can benefit from music education.

Utilitarianism= The idea that music should be done due to its benefits to other aspects in life.

Aestheticism= The idea that music should be done for the sake of doing music.
James Moyer’s Philosophy of Music Education

Moyer’s Philosophy Paper

Music education is vital to today’s society, who is losing touch with the arts, and

focusing more and more on technology and sciences. While this is all good, it should not be the

only thing covered in school. For example, the recent idea of “STEAM” (Science, Technology,

Engineering, Arts, and Math) is a great step forward, and an evolution from “STEM”. The

inclusion of music helps students realize beauty and being, as well as the ability to connect with

others. There are many questions that need to be answered, especially in today’s age with newer

music and new technology.

The first question that needs to be answered is ​Why​. Why should music be taught? What

can music provide for students? What can music provide for a school district?. The first question

is arguably the most difficult to answer. Music should be taught for a multitude of reasons, the

most important reason being for the sake of music. The idea that music should be taught for that

reason is called Aestheticism, and a big influence for this was Bennett Reimer. He thought that

music itself was important enough to teach students without needing any other reason to teach it.

Music is an art form, and within music students can learn great communication skills. They learn

this through talking about the music, working together in sectionals, and by truly being together

as a choir. This kind of education is important, and cannot be learned in many other courses.

Another idea for the reason of teaching music is called Utilitarianism. This is the idea that music

is not only for music, but can help expand a students knowledge and performance in other areas

of study as well. Lowell Mason was the thinker behind this, and was one of the first people to put

a music education program into a public school. He argued that music would help the students
James Moyer’s Philosophy of Music Education

become more fit, and better their achievement in other classes. While being more fit due to choir

and music might not hold up today, his other arguments certainly do. Recent studies have found

a strong correlation to higher grades and involvement in music. This is a great reason to keep

music around, seeing as test scores are meaning more and more to schools as time goes on. The

next answer is a sense of community, as well as a safe space for all students. Music, unlike many

other classes, comes with a sense of community due to what goes on in class. Whether you are

performing in choir or a band, the bond that people feel while making music together is very

difficult to find anywhere else. This sense of community is followed by a safe space for so many

students. Being a good and accepting teacher will rub off onto your students, who will all bond

during their time in your class. Your students will find lifelong friends, and somewhere that they

can call home in the spinning world that is school for so many children. Finally, music can

provide lots of prestige for a school district. Schools generally love showing off their medals and

accomplishments. Even throwing around slogans such as a “National School Of Character”. Why

not add to that by having a prestigious choir or band. By having an AP theory class and sending

lots of children to college for Music Education themselves. As stated before, this could also be

beneficial to a school district due to the benefits of music helping other classes. When other

grades and SAT scores go up, the school wins too. Another great thing a school could do is

incorporate music into its other classes! Maybe they could incorporate a musical into an English

Literature class, or talk about Theory in Math Class. This could heighten the interest of students

already in music in their other studies; while promoting music and the arts in core classes. In

general, the idea of asceticism and the idea of utilitarianism should be looked at when teaching

music. There are reasons that music should be taught for the sake of it, while at the same time
James Moyer’s Philosophy of Music Education

music can help so much in so many different areas. Both of these views have valid points, and

both should be taken into consideration while teaching. It should not be one or the other, but both

should be used together to effectively teach.

Another great question to ask is who should be studying music. An easy answer to the

question is everybody. A good system would be to start all children in elementary school, from

kindergarten. Through all of elementary school, all students should be taking a general music

class every year, as well as a year of choir and a year of band. These can be offered to fourth

graders, seeing as they can start to be mature enough to handle it. This should continue into

Middle School, where a general music class should be required each year. Another idea to

incorporate into middle school music could be technology. A great way to peak the interest of a

child this age is with technology, and they would love to make their own music with a program

like GarageBand. This could be used to interest kids to continue music in High school, where

they could offer a Music Technology class, as well as a Music Composition class for those who

are interested. All of these music classes should be used to teach as much music to every student

as possible. Everybody deserves to have some sort of musical education, and while giving

everybody this chance, teachers should try to influence them to join extra curricular ensembles.

These general music classes are perfect opportunities to recruit students into other music classes,

to give them an even deeper and better music education. On top of who should learn, we need to

answer what they will learn about. As educators, our job is to give our students everything we

can, and teach them about as much as we can. This means all kinds of music. Through general

music classes, any kind of genre can be taught, and should be for that matter. Western music,
James Moyer’s Philosophy of Music Education

Eastern music, rap, hip-hop, Musicals, Operas, Renaissance, classical, etc... all of these have a

place in education, and should be taught.

The teaching of music is a difficult topic to discuss. In 2014, new National Music Ed

Standards were published. These standards were comprised of Creating, Performing, and

Responding. Inside of those three standards are 9 different Achievement Standards, being

1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.

4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.

5. Reading and notating music.

6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.

7. Evaluating music and music performances.

8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.

9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.

The first two standards seem to be the most important to me. Being a part of a choir or band

means that a student should be able to be strong enough on their respective part to do it by

themselves or in a group. Reading music is also a very important skill, and will help with general

musical literacy. These standards, in general, have a fairly utilitarian view. The ideas of

performing, creating, and responding can be applied through life, not just music. Being able to

give a powerpoint for your job, or creating a research paper. These basic skills can all be taught
James Moyer’s Philosophy of Music Education

through music, without actually having to teach them. All of these standards should be thought

about and used when actually teaching music, seeing as to how effective they are. These

standards help all kind of students, even those that are entirely into music, while on the other

hand it helps those who aren’t as interested. Teaching music is not easy, but with the help of

these guidelines it can be done well and effectively.

In conclusion, music education is something that is for everybody, not just a small group

as seen in many schools today. The combination of structuring a program, knowing what to teach

and how to teach it, and even why music should be taught seems daunting at first. My

philosophy is that all students should partake in music classes and making music, and that music

helps so many aspects of life. Music should continue to be an important class in school, and

should continue to be funded and helped by school boards. Music Education is important to

today’s society, and is important to everybody! Not only can music be beneficial just through

music, but also through helping students in so many different areas. Music should be taught in

schools all over the world, and should be more appreciated.

James Moyer’s Philosophy of Music Education

References

​ eneral Writing FAQs.​ Retrieved from

Purdue Online Writing Lab ​(n.d.).​ G

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/general_writing_faqs.html

National Music Education Standards. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://mustech.net/projects/music-ed-standards/

Contents. (2012). ​Jstor.​ doi:10.1515/9781400843114.toc