Skip to main content

The Importance of Exploring How Culture and Society Impact on Music Learning and Teaching

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Music Learning and Teaching in Culturally and Socially Diverse Contexts
  • 1038 Accesses

Abstract

Music is heavily influenced by the society and culture in which it is produced. Consequently, the ways in which music is taught and learnt are also impacted on by social and cultural values and beliefs. Acknowledging how music traditions are guided by such socio-cultural processes and knowledges is important as the modes and methods of transmission and acquisition may differ from context to context. In institutionalised settings such as schools and universities the value of knowing what modes are privileged over others, and why, means that teachers can better address diverse students’ understandings and values attributed to music learning. There are a multitude of ways that music can be acquired and this chapter introduces how society and culture can shape these approaches. The chapter also provides a synopsis of the following chapters and purpose of the entire volume.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abrams, L. (2016). Oral history theory (2nd ed.). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anastopoulou, S., Baber, C., & Sharples, M. (2001). Multimedia and multimodal systems: Commonalities and differences. In 5th Human Centred Technology Postgraduate Workshop. University of Sussex.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arzarello, F., & Paola, D. (2007). Semiotic games: The role of the teacher. In J. H. Woo, H. C. Lew, K. S. Park, & D. Y. Seo (Eds.), Proceedings of the 31st conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (Vol. 2, pp. 17–24). Seoul: PME.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, B. (2018). The importance of nonverbal communication in business and how professors at the University of North Georgia train students on the subject. Honors theses 33. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.northgeorgia.edu/honors_theses/33

  • Barnes, J. M. (2001). Creativity and composition in music. In C. Philpott & C. Plummeridge (Eds.), Issues in music teaching (pp. 92–104). London: Routledge Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton, G. M. (2004). The influence of culture on instrumental music teaching: A participant-observation case study of Karnatic and Queensland instrumental music teachers in context. Unpublished PhD thesis, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton, G. M. (2005). Creating a balance: Investigating a new model for music learning and teaching in the Australian context. In P. S. Campbell, J. Drummond, P. Dunbar-Hall, K. Howard, H. Schippers, & T. Wiggins (Eds.), Cultural diversity in music education: Directions and challenges for the 21st century (pp. 95–102). Brisbane, Australia: Australian Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton, G. M. (2006). The real state of music education: What students and teachers think. Music Education, Research and Innovation Journal, 9(1), 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton, G. M. (2014). The arts and literacy: Interpretation and expression of symbolic form. In G. M. Barton (Ed.), Literacy in the arts: Retheorising learning and teaching (pp. 3–20). Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Barton, G. M. (2015a). Developing confidence and competence as a pre-service music teacher: Personal epistemology in a middle years course. Australian Journal of Music Education, Special Issue No. 3, 16–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton, G. M. (2015b). Reflective practice in music: A collaborative professional approach. In M. Ryan (Ed.), Theorising reflection in the pedagogic field of higher education (pp. 65–76). Switzerland: Springer Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton, G. M. (2018). Music learning and teaching in socio-culturally diverse contexts: A semiotic perspective. Paper presented at The Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) annual conference, Sydney.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton, G. M., & Hartwig, K. (2012). Where is music? A philosophical approach inspired by Steve Dillon. Australian Journal of Music Education, 2, 3–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger, H. M. (2014). New directions for ethnomusicological research into the politics of music and culture: Issues, projects, and programs. Ethnomusicology, 58(2), 315–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blacking, J. (1973). How musical is man? Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blacking, J., & Kealiinohomoku, J. W. (Eds.). (1979). The performing arts: Music and dance. New York: Mouton Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyce-Tillman, J. (2014). Music and well-being. The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa, Special edition, 10(2), 12–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brändström, S., Wiklund, C., & Lundström, E. (2012). Developing distance music education in Arctic Scandinavia: Electric guitar teaching and master classes. Music Education Research, 14(4), 448–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cain, M. (2015). Celebrating musical diversity: Training culturally responsive music educators in multiracial Singapore. International Journal of Music Education, 33(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/0255761415584295

  • Cain, T. (2001). Continuity and progression in music education. In C. Philpott & C. Plummeridge (Eds.), Issues in music teaching (pp. 105–117). London: Routledge Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, P. S. (1992). The world of music through American eyes: A case for multiethnic consciousness in teaching the world’s music traditions. In H. Lees (Ed.), Music education: Sharing musics of the world (pp. 32–42). Seoul, Korea: Conference Proceedings from World Conference International Society of Music Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carson, C., & Westvall, M. (2016). Intercultural approaches and “diversified normality” in music teacher education: Reflections from two angles. Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education, 15(3), 37–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dale, P. (2017). Engaging students with music education: DJ decks, urban music and child-centred learning. London: Routledge Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunbar-Hall, P. (1999). Ethnomusicology and music education: Issues of cross-fertilisation. In Opening the umbrella: An encompassing view of music education (pp. 48–53). Sydney, Australia: Australian Society for Music Education, XII Conference Proceedings.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, D. J. (1994). Music, education and musical value. In H. Lees (Ed.), Musical connections: Tradition and change—Proceedings of the 21st World Conference of the International Society for Music Education (Vol. 21). Tampa, FL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, C. J. (1985). Aboriginal music education for living: Cross-cultural experiences from South Australia. St Lucia, QLD: University of Queensland Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feld, S. (1984). Sound structure as social structure. Journal of Ethnomusicology, 28(3), 383–409. https://doi.org/10.2307/851232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaunt, H., & Westerlund, H. (2013). Collaborative learning in higher music education. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, L. (2011). Introduction: The globalisation and localisation of learning, teaching and musical identity. In L. Green (Ed.), Learning, teaching and musical identity: Voices across cultures (pp. 1–19). Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hecker, P. (2016). Turkish metal: Music, meaning and morality in a Muslim society. London: Routledge Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heimonen, M., & Westvall, M. (2015). Multicultural music education from the perspective of Swedish-speaking teachers and state authorities in Finland. Nordic Research in Music Education, 16, 139–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herndon, M., & McLeod, N. (Eds.). (1982). Music as culture. Pennsylvania: Norwood Editions.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hesmondhalgh, D., & Meier, L. M. (2017). What the digitalisation of music tells us about capitalism, culture and the power of the information technology sector. Information, Communication and Society. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2017.1340498

  • Jeanneret, N. (1997). Model for developing preservice primary teachers’ confidence to teach music. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, 133, 37–44 Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/40318837

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, S. (2016). Teaching music in American society: A social and cultural understanding of music education (2nd ed.). London: Routledge Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly-McHale, J. (2016). Why music education needs to incorporate more diversity. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/why-music-education-needs-to-incorporate-more-diversity-53789

  • Kotarba, J. A. (Ed.). (2017). Understanding society through popular music. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leong, S. (Ed.). (1997). Music in schools and teacher education: A global perspective. Nedlands, WA: International Society for Music Education, Commission for Music in Schools and Teacher Education in Association with CIRCME.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leong, S. (2016). Glocalisation and interculturality in Chinese research: A planetary perspective. In P. Burnard, E. Mackinlay, & K. Powell (Eds.), Routledge handbook of intercultural arts research (pp. 344–357). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lomax, A. (1976). Cantometrics: An approach to the anthropology of music. Berkeley: University of California Extension Media Centre.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald, A., Barton, G. M., Baguley, M., & Hartwig, K. (2016). Teachers’ curriculum stories: Thematic perceptions and capacities. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 48(13), 1336–1351. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131857.2016.1210496

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merriam, A. P. (1964). The anthropology of music. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nettl, B. (1998). An ethnomusicological perspective. In B. Lundquist & C. K. Szego (Eds.), Musics of the world’s cultures: A source book for music educators (pp. 23–32). Nedlands, WA: CIRCME.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ng, C., & Bahr, N. (2000). Knowledge structures and motivation to learn: Reciprocal effects. Queensland Journal of Educational Research, 16(1), 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shuker, R. (2016). Understanding popular music culture (5th ed.). London: Routledge Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Small, C. (1996). Music, society, education. Hanover: University Press of New England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Southcott, J., & Joseph, D. (2010). Engaging, exploring, and experiencing multicultural music in Australian music teacher education: The changing landscape of multicultural music education. Journal of Music Teacher Education, 20(1), 8–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spradley, J. P. (2016). Participant observation. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stowasser, H. (1992). The development of the music curriculum in Queensland secondary schools: A microcosmic view. In W. Bebbington (Ed.), Sound and reason: Music essays in honour of Gordon D. Spearritt. St Lucia, QLD: University of Queensland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swanwick, K. (1996). Music education liberated from new praxis. International Journal of Music Education, 28, 16–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swanwick, K. (1999). Teaching music musically. London and New York: Routledge Publishers.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Swanwick, K. (2016). A developing discourse in music education: The selected works of Keith Swanwick. London: Routledge Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, T. D. (2001). Strange sounds: Music technology and culture. London: Routledge Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, P., & Bornat, J. (2017). The voice of the past: Oral history (4th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tobias, E. S. (2013). Toward convergence: Adapting music education to contemporary society and participatory culture. Music Educators Journal, 99(4), 29–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turino, T. (2008). Music as social life: The politics of participation. Chicago and London: Chicago University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO. (2006). Road map for arts education. In The world conference on arts education: Building creative capacities for the 21st century, Lisbon, 6–9 March 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vella, R. (2000). Musical environments: A manual for listening, improvising and composing. Redfern, NSW: Currency Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Volk, T. M. (2004). Music education and multiculturalism: Foundations and principles. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vulliamy, G., & Lee, E. (2016). Popular music: A teacher’s guide (Vol. 7). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wade, B. (2008). Thinking musically: Experiencing music, expressing culture (2nd ed.). London: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, R. (2001). The rise and fall of philosophies of music education: Looking backwards in order to see ahead. Research Studies in Music Education, 17(1), 3–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wall, T. (2013). Studying popular music culture (2nd ed.). London: Sage Publications.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, K. Y. (2015). Malaysian general music teachers’ attitudes and practices in multicultural music education. In Asia Pacific Symposium for Music Education Research, 10–13 July 2015, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, K. Y., Pan, K. C., & Shah, S. M. (2015). General music teachers’ attitudes and practices regarding multicultural music education in Malaysia. Music Education Research, 18(2), 208–223. https://doi.org/10.1080/14613808.2015.1052383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhukov, K. (1999). Problems of research into instrumental music teaching. In N. Jeanneret & K. Marsh (Eds.), Conference proceedings: Opening the umbrella; An encompassing view of music education; Australian Society for Music Education, XII national conference, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia, 9–13 July 1999 (pp. 237–242). Sydney, Australia: Australian Society for Music Education.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Barton, G. (2018). The Importance of Exploring How Culture and Society Impact on Music Learning and Teaching. In: Music Learning and Teaching in Culturally and Socially Diverse Contexts. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95408-0_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95408-0_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-95407-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-95408-0

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics