Musicking Criticality: Reenvisioning Critical Pedagogy for Music Education

• In Event: 61.055 - Music Education in the Contexts of Race, Religion, Culture, and Current Events

Abstract

In this particular political moment, with the resurgence of White nationalist (White supremacist) movements internationally, I argue that Freirian critical pedagogy proves useful for music education. Given Trump-era discourses of “post-truth,” “alternative facts,” and “fake news” (McIntyre, 2018), critically assessing information through critical pedagogy becomes perhaps even more essential. Music education offers an opportunity to enact critical pedagogy through musicking (Small, 1998). This paper draws upon the perspectives of 20 activist-musicians to consider what we might learn about critical pedagogy and music education from individuals who engage critically in the world with their music. Their perspectives provide a means to envision critical pedagogy for music education.

Author

• Juliet Hess, Michigan State University