Music Education for All?

Abstract

School music programs are changing. For years the music education profession has emphasized large ensemble experiences for reasons that include quality of music making, sense of community, and individual and collective pride for many of the students involved. As a high school saxophonist, I valued that experience, but other high school students—both in my time and now—have equally rewarding music-making experiences outside of school. Who are these people? What do their experiences tell us? This article includes the stories of three adult music makers, whose pathways did not include school music experiences past their elementary years. As adults they all create music, and two of them are active performers. Why was there no place for them in school music programs? Is there a place for them now?