The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy in Music Education

Bowman, Wayne D., and Ana Lucia. Frega. The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy in Music
Education. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2012. Print.
1. What is the main idea or
underlying value in the text? The
recurrent, systematic, and critical
examination of beliefs and
assumptions - of the grounds for our
musical and instructional actions - is
fundamental to professional practice
in music education. (pg. 3)

The main idea in this text is all of the thought

processes that go into the belief and actions
of music is the fundamental to music
education.

2. What is the authors purpose or

perspective? Without it we have no secure
basis for claims that our instructional efforts
are congruent with the ends for which our
profession exists. (pg. 3)

The authors purpose is to state that without

all of the thought processes that go into the
belief and actions of music to make music
education, there would be no music
education.

3. What does this particular phrase mean? It

is natural that such inquiry disposes us to
assume firm positions from time to time - to
embrace this philosophical stance rather
than that; but these positions are best
regarded as temporary, as working
hypotheses, as stances that are subject to

This particular phrase means that we as

musicians will take certain stances on music
education, assuming that our point of view is
the only right one. However, that is not true.
Music education is constantly changing and
because of this, our stances are subject to
change.

revision and refinement in light of changing

circumstances and as needs arise. (pg. 3)
4. What might be a good title for this portion
of the text? processes of sustained inquiry
brought to bear on any - and potentially,
every - aspect of music educational practice.
(pg. 5)

Perhaps a good title for this portion of the text

would be:
Rather not Philosophy of, but Philosophy in
Music Education

5. What is the most important word in this

sentence? Music as a historical, cultural
phenomenon receives much attention from a
variety of fields and disciplines: anthropology,
music history and theory, psychology,
philosophy, sociology, economics, biography,
and specialized studies of musical skills and
development. (pg. 255)

I believe that the most important word in this

sentence is phenomenon, because it is
implying that music is not just this one thing
that you can see or hold, but rather that one
thing that you have to think about and form an
opinion about.

6. What is the main idea or underlying value

in the text? The artists powers of expression
appear as nonrational inspirations [...] - a
gift of the gods. Thus was forged the familiar
three-way link among creativity, inspiration,
and unreason. (pg. 255)

The main idea in this text is that musicians

dont think, they just do in their own
mysterious ways.

7. Has anything in the text changed your way

of thinking?

Yes, I never realized how many different

philosophical inquiries there were about
music. I now realize that there is no one way
to think or feel about it, as music is constantly
changing.

8. What does this particular phrase mean?

what ends it seeks to pursue, what skills it
involves, and by what criteria it should be
judged or evaluated - these are complex
questions whose answers are becoming
increasingly complex and contentious (pg.
495)

This particular phrase means that the

answers to those types of questions are
becoming more complex because more
people are speaking their views and
influencing more people.

9. What might be a good title for this portion

of the text? decentered, multiple, and, often,
objects of dispute (pg. 495)

A good title for this portion of the text would

be:
Aims and Nature of Music Education
Philosophy

10. Why is this material important?

[Philosophy] identifies dubious assumptions,
challenges confused thinking, and offers
useful alternatives to conventional ideas and
patterns of action. (pg. 495)

Philosophy is there to give you other opinions

and views of a certain topic. Instead of just
assuming that one view is the right view,
philosophy gives you many different options
to consider.