Democracy in the Middle School Music Classroom

Including democratic principles in a traditional public school general music program can be challenging, but the benefits are significant, including greater student independence and motivation for learning. Democratic practice is both an approach to teaching and an outcome of the experience. It prepares students to be participants in society by providing space for student voices and encouraging students to think deeply and ask challenging questions. It also involves negotiating a rebalance of control in which the music teacher is more of a teacher-facilitator, learning alongside the students and allowing their choices and decisions to be a driving force in the learning process. This article presents one model for incorporating democratic ideals in middle school general music