Never Ask Permission: Using Beyoncé's Music as Protest to Challenge Genre in the Music Classroom

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 7:45 am - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Curricular Perspectives in Music Teacher Education

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to explore Beyoncé’s use of genre to inform a music education framework centered on protest, activism, and critical engagement. We offer both theoretical grounding and practical applications for music educators seeking to navigate today’s educational challenges while fostering musical experiences that are culturally relevant, critically engaged, and pedagogically bold. We ultimately theorize a protest-teaching model for use in the music classroom. In the spirit of Beyoncé’s declaration, we encourage music educators to stop asking permission—to teach with purpose, to challenge norms, and to ensure their pedagogical practices align with social justice and musical activism.

Authors

• Bri'Ann Wright, California State University - Fullerton

• Christian Michael Folk, University of Texas at Austin