The Sage Handbook of School Music Education

An international overview of school music education with a broad focus on curriculum and teaching issues, alongside a contemporary perspective examining where music education meets social justice issues.


The Sage Handbook of School Music Education stands as an essential guide for navigating the evolving educational landscape in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and the transformative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The handbook addresses philosophical foundations, social justice challenges, the envisioning of a transformative curriculum, and critical issues in music teacher education. Written by a diverse team of leading scholars, this handbook offers a truly global perspective with contributors from Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, and North and South America.

The handbook engages with the profound interplay of economic, political, and social forces that shape educational policies. Scholars within this collaborative work delve into what it means to educate in a world undergoing significant changes. This entails an exploration of emerging educational approaches, considerations for societal implications, and the interconnectedness of school music education with broader curricular and global contexts.

As a cohesive resource, The Sage Handbook of School Music Education not only addresses the challenges faced by educators but also envisions the transformative potential of music education in fostering creativity, inclusivity, and adaptability. This handbook serves as a compass for students, practitioners and scholars in the field, and all those passionate about navigating the complexities of redefining music education for a new era.

Part 1: Foundations
Part 2: Struggling for Social Justice Through Music Education 
Part 3: Curriculum Development 
Part 4: Teacher Education 

Contributor: José Luis Aróstegui (Edited by), Catharina Christophersen (Edited by), Jeananne Nichols (Edited by), Koji Matsunobu (Edited by)

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