Instrumental Music in American Education: In Service of Many Masters

A discussion of instrumental music in American educational institutions during the last 100 years, a century that has encompassed virtually the entire history of tax-supported instrumental music education in this country. The essay deals with the entry of instrumental music into the school and college curriculum, the evolution of instrumental music education, reasons for success disparities between instructional modes, the "masters" and "world-be masters" that instrumental music education attempts to serve, and some speculations about the future. Instrumental music ensembles share with choral ensembles the following characteristics, as opposed to the (far) less successful instructional modes in schools: they are single medium, generally do not deal with controversial materials, and involve large numbers of students in a single ensemble. These ensembles owe their entry and continuing success in schools largely to popularity with students and the public.