Beauty, Reason, and Power: Music Education in a Pluralist Society

Music education, when approached as a part of a classical liberal arts education, is a profoundly humanizing endeavor that facilitates individual musical and moral growth within communities of practice. It contrasts with common progressive and critical curriculum frameworks through a philosophically realist analysis and equips students to contribute to the common good as members of their broader communities. Students learn music classically through ethical apprenticeship, a foundational method of induction into existing musical traditions that draws its pedagogical authority from both the internal standards of the craft and the practices' hierarchical relation to an external moral order. Music education ultimately contributes to the life well lived when it reflects a narrative unity encompassing myth and reason, lived virtuously through the mastery of desire as measured by normative standards that are intrinsically meaningful beyond the limitations of the self.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 354 pages
Publication date: 22 February 2023
Publisher: Peter Lang Publishing Inc

Music, when approached as a part of a classical liberal arts education, is a profoundly humanizing endeavor that can facilitate individual musical and moral growth within communities of practice. A classical approach to music education contrasts with common progressive and critical curriculum frameworks through a philosophically realist analysis. From this perspective, a classical education serves as an induction into the liberal arts as a living tradition of cultural memory rooted in the transcendentals of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. Further, because a classical liberal arts education is an education in virtue, it equips students to contribute to the common good as members of their broader communities. Music education, as part of a classical education, can cultivate shared loves across political, religious, or cultural lines in a pluralist society. Studying music allows practitioners to expand the circle of internal goods of a musical tradition while respecting existing individual and community moral commitments. Students learn music classically through ethical apprenticeship, a foundational method of induction into existing musical traditions that draws its pedagogical authority from both the internal standards of the craft and the practices' hierarchical relation to an external moral order. Music education ultimately contributes to the life well lived when it reflects a narrative unity encompassing myth and reason, lived virtuously through the mastery of desire as measured by normative standards that are intrinsically meaningful beyond the limitations of the self.

William Perrine, impressively well-read and deeply thoughtful, makes the convincing case for a classic liberal, aesthetic music education, and the importance of music in shaping individuals and society. He argues that music education should be rooted in the liberal arts, with a focus on the cultivation of aesthetic and moral values. Perrine emphasizes the importance of a balanced curriculum that includes both music theory and performance, as well as the study of music history and culture. He also stresses the importance of ethical and philosophical inquiry in music education, which can help students develop a deeper understanding of the role of music in society and their own place within it.

Perrine's book is a valuable resource for music educators, policymakers, and anyone interested in the role of music in education and society. It provides a clear and compelling argument for the importance of a classical liberal arts education in music, and offers practical insights and strategies for implementing such an education in schools and communities. Perrine's writing is accessible and engaging, and his insights are grounded in a deep understanding of the history and philosophy of music education.

In conclusion, William Perrine's book is a must-read for anyone interested in music education and the role of music in shaping individuals and society. It provides a clear and compelling argument for the importance of a classical liberal arts education in music, and offers practical insights and strategies for implementing such an education in schools and communities. Perrine's writing is accessible and engaging, and his insights are grounded in a deep understanding of the history and philosophy of music education.

Weight: 523g
Dimension: 225 x 150 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781433199110
Edition number: New ed