The History of Music Education

The idea of music is not something new. Music has been around longer than anyone can perceive. The process of teaching the musical theories and ideas to someone is just as ancient as music itself. Someone with knowledge of music taught another, and they taught the next person. Music has lived on through the ages by people teaching it to each other by example.

Music was linked to the gods and divine powers in ancient Greece. Greek philosophers and theorists came up with many ideas about music that influenced the musical thought throughout the Middle Ages, and still lasts to this day. Some concepts were interpreted to the Middle Ages through early Christian writings. Many of these writings were not rediscovered until the Renaissance. In fact, modern music theory and its vocabulary is largely derived from the Greeks. Also, Greek harmonics laid the foundation for notes, intervals, scales, and modes.

Philosophers Plato and Aristotle had different views on music. Plato believed that the right kind of music engaged the mind and enhanced temperance and courage within a human being. Aristotle held that the addition of music heightened the theatrical experience for the viewer.

In about 4th century B.C. music education had evidently reached the height of its influence. Music was first joined with poetry, but was starting to become its own area of study. The mathematics of music was studied for its own sake in schools, and in Rome, music education became an aspect of intellectual discipline. Music was ordinarily performed by slaves and foreigners, to entertain the highborn Romans.

In the 6th century a philosopher named Boethius penned five books entitled, De Institutione Musica (The Fundamentals of Music). These books provided a point of...

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...cal activity in schools led to the development of many new organizations for music teachers. Sections of the National Education Association met separately, and in 1907 a general meeting was held. This led to the organizations of the Music Supervisors Conference, which later became known as the Music Educators National Conference.

The movement of the music contest was becoming more prominent. In fact, in 1928 the first official national contest sponsored by the Music Educators National Conference and the National Bureau for the Advancement of Music.

It is obvious to take a look at the history of music education and see the impact it has made on our country, and even the world. The development of music in schools has molded many young students into fine musicians. Many music teachers have inspired young musical talents to dream big, and that is a beautiful thing.