Der Beitrag klärt die Verwendung und Bedeutung des Begriffs der Praxis in der musikdidaktischen Literatur. Zunächst werden hierfür die Praxisbegriffe der deutschsprachigen Autoren H. J. Kaiser, J. Vogt, Ch. Wallbaum und Ch. Rolle sowie der englischsprachigen Autoren Th. A. Regelski, D. J. Elliott und Ch. Small anhand relevanter Primärliteratur herausgearbeitet und dargestellt. In einem zweiten Schritt werden die Theorien und Modelle jeweils auf ihre didaktischen Implikationen hin untersucht und ihre Eignung für die Umsetzung im Hinblick auf eine reale Lehr-Lern-Situation eingeschätzt. Schließlich werden die Praxisbegriffe der sieben behandelten Autoren in Relation zueinander gebracht, Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede aufgezeigt. Entsprechungen bezüglich des Verständnisses von Praxis werden konstatiert insbesondere zwischen Regelski, Kaiser und Vogt einerseits, sowie zwischen Small, Elliott, Wallbaum und Rolle andererseits. Erstere rekurrieren auf aristotelische Begrifflichkeiten und fokussieren den ethischen Aspekt einer praxis, das „richtige“ Handeln bzw. „gute“ Leben; Letztere stellen die durch musikalische Praxis mögliche (positive) Erfahrung des „flow“ (Elliott), des Ästhetischen (Rolle; Wallbaum) bzw. idealer Beziehungen (Small) in den Mittelpunkt ihrer Betrachtungen. / This work discusses the use and meaning of “praxis” (practice) as a technical term in music education literature. Relevant texts of the German-speaking authors H. J. Kaiser, J. Vogt, Ch. Wallbaum, and Ch. Rolle as well as of the English-speaking authors Th. A. Regelski, D. J. Elliott, and Ch. Small are analyzed and compared in terms of the authors’ understanding of “praxis”. Similarities are identified among (1) the work of Regelski, Kaiser, and Vogt and among (2) the work of Small, Elliott, Wallbaum, and Rolle. While the former group of authors refers to Aristotelian concepts and focuses on the ethical aspect of praxis, the latter group reflects the (positive) experience of “flow” (Elliott), the experience of the aesthetic (Rolle, Wallbaum), or the experience of ideal relationships (Small) – each possible through musical practice (or rather “praxis”).

Public school principals who provide and sustain music in elementary programs are often confronted with budgetary cuts and reduced funding for music education. There is a dearth of research regarding music as an essential element in K-3 education in low-income rural schools. The purpose of this generic qualitative inquiry was to explore and describe leadership practices of principals, who despite fiscal challenges, include and sustain music in the K-3 curriculum in a low-income rural area of a small county in North Carolina. Elliott and Silverman’s concept of praxial music education and Leithwood and Riehl’s philosophy of instructional leadership practices were used for the conceptual framework. Through individual interviews with principals (n = 4) and 3 focus groups with parents (n = 8) from Parent Teacher Organizations of elementary public schools in a low-income rural district, data were collected from a total of 12 participants involved with music education. Participants described the importance of and the criteria for including music in the K-3 program regardless of economic challenges emphasizing the significance of school principals’ leadership practices. Data were analyzed using open coding to find emergent themes. Results suggested that commitment to sustaining music education in the K-3 program comes from evidence of children’s development of creative and critical thinking. Providing opportunities for an enhanced education may create perspectives that lead students to become engaged citizens for a more equitable society. The findings may also encourage educational leaders to find ways to sustain music in educational programs as a contribution to positive social change.

Der Beitrag klärt die Verwendung und Bedeutung des Begriffs der Praxis in der musikdidaktischen Literatur. Zunächst werden hierfür die Praxisbegriffe der deutschsprachigen Autoren H. J. Kaiser, J. Vogt, Ch. Wallbaum und Ch. Rolle sowie der englischsprachigen Autoren Th. A. Regelski, D. J. Elliott und Ch. Small anhand relevanter Primärliteratur herausgearbeitet und dargestellt. In einem zweiten Schritt werden die Theorien und Modelle jeweils auf ihre didaktischen Implikationen hin untersucht und ihre Eignung für die Umsetzung im Hinblick auf eine reale Lehr-Lern-Situation eingeschätzt. Schließlich werden die Praxisbegriffe der sieben behandelten Autoren in Relation zueinander gebracht, Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede aufgezeigt. Entsprechungen bezüglich des Verständnisses von Praxis werden konstatiert insbesondere zwischen Regelski, Kaiser und Vogt einerseits, sowie zwischen Small, Elliott, Wallbaum und Rolle andererseits. Erstere rekurrieren auf aristotelische Begrifflichkeiten und fokussieren den ethischen Aspekt einer praxis, das „richtige“ Handeln bzw. „gute“ Leben; Letztere stellen die durch musikalische Praxis mögliche (positive) Erfahrung des „flow“ (Elliott), des Ästhetischen (Rolle; Wallbaum) bzw. idealer Beziehungen (Small) in den Mittelpunkt ihrer Betrachtungen. / This work discusses the use and meaning of “praxis” (practice) as a technical term in music education literature. Relevant texts of the German-speaking authors H. J. Kaiser, J. Vogt, Ch. Wallbaum, and Ch. Rolle as well as of the English-speaking authors Th. A. Regelski, D. J. Elliott, and Ch. Small are analyzed and compared in terms of the authors’ understanding of “praxis”. Similarities are identified among (1) the work of Regelski, Kaiser, and Vogt and among (2) the work of Small, Elliott, Wallbaum, and Rolle. While the former group of authors refers to Aristotelian concepts and focuses on the ethical aspect of praxis, the latter group reflects the (positive) experience of “flow” (Elliott), the experience of the aesthetic (Rolle, Wallbaum), or the experience of ideal relationships (Small) – each possible through musical practice (or rather “praxis”).

This article deals with the differences of a performance-based approach of music education in the USA and a reflection-based approach in Germany. The lessons represent very different ways to reach students through music. The students respond either more enthusiastic or more rational, but always positively.

Music Education as part of the learning area Arts and Culture is far from satisfactory in South African schools. Reasons for this include a highly sophisticated and complex curriculum (the revised National Curriculum Statement, 2002); the integration of four discrete arts forms into one learning area; and teacher training which is not always reflective of the teaching profession’s demands. The study was based on a mixed method design, investigating how teachers in best scenario schools implement music as part of the integrated learning area Arts and Culture. Interviews were held with various stakeholders in Music Education, including teachers currently involved with the presentation of the Arts and Culture learning area, lecturers at universities training students for Music Education, and policy makers such as subject advisors in the Arts and Culture learning area. Data was also collected by analysing commercially available resources for this learning area. Analysis of the data obtained revealed that few teachers in the Arts and Culture learning area are qualified in more than one art form. A major concern is that music is often omitted from regular classroom activities in the Foundation Phase due to teachers feeling pressurised by multiple assessment standards in learning areas such as Literacy and Numeracy. Another finding in all primary school phases was that the time spent on Music Education was far less than that spent on Visual Arts. Learners are often involved in projects collecting knowledge about music, but seldom involved in active music making experiences. Aspects such as different ways to integrate the arts into one learning area, generalist/specialist teacher training, as well as issues concerning product, process and performance during the delivery of the arts, were also investigated. The researcher drew from all the data to design a course for teacher training in Music Education as part of the learning area Arts and Culture. Recommendations include regular in-service teacher training courses; nationwide co-ordination of teacher training programmes and the establishment of a national council for Music Education. An urgent need for appropriate lesson material in Arts and Culture was also identified, including CDs with songs and backtracks. / Thesis (DMus)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Music / unrestricted

In music education, aesthetic education and praxial music education serve as two major, guiding philosophical frameworks, yet supporters of each often conflict with one another. Furthermore, both are slightly problematic with respect to the specific context of the public school. Each framework is primarily music-based, however, music education has existed in the wider context of general education since the 1830s. Given the recent core-status designation for music education, as part of all fine arts, in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, a framework from general education that supported music education could offer benefits for the domain. However, the wider context of general education is messy as well. Two groups occupy most of the space there, and remain locked in a fundamental disagreement over the purpose of a formal education. The progressive educators, historically framed by Dewey and Thorndike, contend that education functions as societal improvement. In contrast, the essentialists contend that education functions as cultural transmission. Therefore, a more specific need for music education involves selecting a framework from general education that resolves this conflict. The writings of William Chandler Bagley indicate that he balanced both considerations of a formal education while also advancing his notion of essentialism. Bagley differed from the progressive educators predominately associated with Dewey over definitions and ideas surrounding a democratic education. Emergent points of contrast with Thorndike include distinctions between social efficiency and Bagley's alternative idea of social progress. Bagley also diverged from other essentialists over definitions concerning liberal and cultural education. To make these viewpoints of Bagley explicit, I describe characteristics of a progressive education, and an essentialist education separately, before introducing Bagley. Finally, I apply Bagley's ideas into the domain of music education. Ultimately, I contend that through common outcomes of creativity, competition, and literacy, the domain of music education can remain securely grounded in the values within the public schools.

Video-recorded music lessons (on multi angle DVDs) were used to inspire and improve understanding among experts from different cultures and discourses of music education. To make the process manageable and focused we developed the Analytical Short Film (2-3 minutes) to address particular areas of interest and starting points for debate. We asked selected music teachers from seven nation-states to allow a typical and (in their opinion) good lesson to be recorded. We also asked the students and their parents for permission. At a symposium, national experts and researchers presented views on „their“ lessons through Analytical Short Films. Discussion included implicit and explicit comparisons. The presenters also used a lesson from one of the other countries to stimulate discussion about assumptions in and challenges to their own views. We documented all comparisons made and compared these to derive cross cultural categories (tertia comparationis). These categories should be relevant for understanding what makes a music lesson „good“. The different perspectives and discussions offered by the authors in this book provide rich and diverse material for researchers, teachers and teacher educators.

The Chapter consists in two sections complementing Analytical Short Films. The first is about a supposedly universal atmosphere called RED in the Bavaria-Lesson, the second about different cultures in voice and posture coming together in the Beijing-Lesson. Both are related to theory as well as German philosophies of music education.