The purpose of the study was to investigate and compare the general music programs of public schools at the junior high school level between Korea and the United States. The comparison included the organizational structure of general music class, general music curriculum using the fifth revised music curriculum of the Korean middle school and the description and standards for American school music program suggested by Music Educators National Conference, and three music textbooks between both countries. The author found that Korea differs from America in music class instructional approach, curriculum decision making body, the treatment of curricular subject matters, and the content of textbooks between both countries.