Culturally Responsive Choral Music Education visits the classrooms of three ethnically diverse choral teacher-conductors to highlight specific examples of ways that culturally responsive teaching (CRT) can enrich choral music education. Principles of CRT are illustrated in contrasting demographic contexts: a choir serving a sizeable immigrant Hispanic population, a choir with an African American classroom majority, and a choir comprised of students who identify with eighteen distinct ethnicities. Additionally, portraits of nine ethnically diverse students illuminate how CRT shaped their experiences as members of these choral ensembles. Practical recommendations are offered for developing a culturally responsive classroom environment.

Culturally Responsive Choral Music Education visits the classrooms of three ethnically diverse choral teacher-conductors to highlight specific examples of ways that culturally responsive teaching (CRT) can enrich choral music education. Principles of CRT are illustrated in contrasting demographic contexts: a choir serving a sizeable immigrant Hispanic population, a choir with an African American classroom majority, and a choir comprised of students who identify with eighteen distinct ethnicities. Additionally, portraits of nine ethnically diverse students illuminate how CRT shaped their experiences as members of these choral ensembles. Practical recommendations are offered for developing a culturally responsive classroom environment.

Culturally Responsive Teaching in Music Education: From Understanding to Application, Second Edition, presents teaching methods that are responsive to how different culturally specific knowledge bases impact learning. It offers a pedagogy that recognizes the importance of including students’ cultural references in all aspects of learning. Designed as a resource for teachers of undergraduate and graduate music education courses, the book provides examples in the context of music education, with theories presented in Part I and a review of teaching applications in Part II. Culturally Responsive Teaching in Music Education is an effort to answer the question: How can I teach music to my students in a way that is culturally responsive? This book serves several purposes, by: Providing practical examples of transferring theory into practice in music education. Illustrating culturally responsive pedagogy within the classroom. Demonstrating the connection of culturally responsive teaching to the school and larger community. This Second Edition has been updated and revised to incorporate recent research on teaching music from a culturally responsive lens, new data on demographics, and scholarship on calls for change in the music curriculum. It also incorporates an array of new perspectives from music educators, administrators, and pre-service teachers—drawn from different geographic regions—while addressing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2020 social justice protests.

This volume problematizes the historic dominance of Western classical music education and posits culturally sustaining pedagogy (CSP) as a framework through which music curricula can better serve increasingly diverse student populations. By detailing a qualitative study conducted in an urban high school in the United States, the volume illustrates how traditional approaches to music education can inhibit student engagement and learning. Moving beyond culturally responsive teaching, the volume goes on to demonstrate how enhancing teachers’ understanding of alternative musical epistemologies can support them in embracing CSP in the music classroom. This new theoretical and pedagogical framework reconceptualizes current practices to better sustain the musical cultures of the minoritized. This text will benefit researchers, academics, and educators with an interest in music education, multicultural education, and urban education more broadly. Those specifically interested in ethnomusicology and classroom practice will also benefit from this book.

Ruth Gurgel presents and analyzes the perspectives of eight students and their teacher in a pluralistic 7th grade choir classroom at Clark Middle School, located in a large Midwestern urban school district. Through the eyes of the students, music teachers gain insight into the complexity of the engagement cycle as well as interventions that increase and maintain deep engagement.

This book provides important insights for educators in music, the arts, and other subjects on the role that music can play in the curriculum as a powerful bridge to cultural understanding. The author documents key ideas and practices that have influenced current music education, particularly through efforts of ethnomusicologists in collaboration with educators, and examines some of the promises and pitfalls in shaping multicultural education through music. The text highlights World Music Pedagogy as a gateway to studying other cultures as well as the importance of including local music and musicians in the classroom. “This book clearly articulates the role that music has played and continues to play in the context of the goals and aims of multicultural education.” —Constance L. McKoy, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro “This brilliant book describes the history of U.S. music education and argues for the need to include diverse musical traditions in our classrooms.” —Anthony Seeger, distinguished professor emeritus, UCLA “Provides a rich context for understanding how music can and should play a central role in the pursuit of a more diverse, culturally relevant education for our children.” —Steven M. Demorest, Northwestern University

Kenneth H. Phillips, Ph.D., is Professor of Music and Director of Graduate Studies in Music Education at Gordon College and Professor Emeritus of the University of Iowa. An award-winning researcher and teacher, he has been recognized by the National Association of Music Education (MENC) as one of the nation's most accomplished music educators. Dr. Phillips is the author of Teaching Kids to Sing (Schirmer Books/Thompson), Basic Techniques of Conducting (OUP), and Directing the Choral Music Program (OUP), and has written over 90 articles published in leading music education journals. He has made numerous presentations of his research throughout the United States, and in Canada, China, Australia, and New Zealand.