Integrating multicultural music education into the public elementary school curricula in Thailand

Abstract

This article reflects on various challenges encountered during a pilot action-based research “Integrating Multicultural Music Education into the Elementary School Curricula of Public Schools in Thailand.” This project was set up to develop lesson plans, activities, teaching tools and evaluation methods for music teachers. As a pilot-curriculum model, it pays particular attention to cross-cultural understanding for helping Thai children gain a sense of cultural conceptualization and the skills necessary for growing up in a racially, religiously, and culturally diverse society. This research attempts to explore possibilities for various music cultures introduced to the formal education system in Thailand, which had previously restricted music education to nationalist-based Thai music and certain samples of Western classical music. Once children discover multiple music cultures, their perspectives are broadened. The outcomes of this research will also be beneficial for future instruction designs. The attempt to update music education in the Basic Education level to accommodate changing social and cultural contexts affected by globalization and urbanization will raise awareness of cultural diversity and the direction of music education curriculum development. Music education through the Thai formal education system is one method of preparing children to grow up in a culturally diverse world.